Sun Nov 30 17:28:58 UTC 2025: NEWS ARTICLE:
Suspect in National Guard Shooting Showed Signs of Distress for Years
Washington D.C. – Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national charged with the murder of West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and the critical wounding of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe in Washington D.C. last week, exhibited increasingly erratic behavior for years prior to the attack, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press.
Lakanwal, 29, an asylum seeker who entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, had difficulty adjusting to life in America. Emails from a community advocate to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) detailed his struggles with employment, language acquisition, and mental health. The emails, dating back to January 2024, describe periods of isolation, reckless cross-country travel, and neglect of his five young children.
The community member, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that Lakanwal’s behavior began to deteriorate in March 2023. He struggled to hold a job, often isolating himself in a darkened room for weeks at a time. Concerns arose about his mental state, leading to fears that he might harm himself.
Despite the warnings, the community member expressed shock upon learning Lakanwal was the suspect in the National Guard shooting.
The attack, which occurred on November 26, 2025, claimed the life of 20-year-old Specialist Beckstrom and left 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Wolfe critically injured. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack.
Lakanwal, a former member of a CIA-backed Afghan Army unit, resettled with his family in Bellingham, Washington. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that Lakanwal drove from Bellingham to Washington D.C. to carry out the attack.
USCRI visited Lakanwal and his family in March 2024 after receiving the concerning emails but it is unclear if he accepted their offer of support.
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