Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the man accused in the shooting near the White House, was a study in unraveling. For years, he drifted through life, unable to maintain employment and oscillating between profound isolation and impulsive, cross-country journeys.
Warnings about his deteriorating mental state surfaced months before the Thanksgiving Eve attack. A community advocate, deeply concerned he was spiraling towards self-harm, reached out to refugee organizations for help, fearing a tragic outcome.
The advocate, working with Afghan families in Washington state, was stunned to learn Lakanwal was the suspect. The image of a violent act clashed sharply with memories of him playfully interacting with his young sons, a detail shared with the FBI during the ongoing investigation.
The shooting claimed the life of West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Investigators are now meticulously piecing together the motive behind this devastating event.
Lakanwal, 29, arrived in the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program designed to resettle Afghans who had assisted U.S. forces. He had previously served in a specialized Afghan Army unit supported by the CIA.
He settled with his wife and five young sons, all under the age of 12, in Bellingham, Washington. However, the transition proved immensely difficult, marked by a growing inability to adapt and a persistent struggle to provide for his family.
Emails reveal a man increasingly disconnected from reality. “Rahmanullah has not been functional…since March of last year,” one message stated, detailing his job loss and a dramatic shift in his behavior beginning in March 2023.
He cycled through periods of “dark isolation,” retreating into his room for weeks, unresponsive even to his wife and children, and bursts of “reckless travel.” The family faced eviction after falling months behind on rent, a stark illustration of their mounting difficulties.
The advocate feared Lakanwal was succumbing to deep depression, worried about his potential for self-harm. Yet, there was no indication he would direct that despair towards others.
Desperate attempts were made to reach him, even enlisting his young sons to deliver messages and the phone, as he ignored all other attempts at communication. During his wife’s brief absences, the children suffered neglect, going without proper care and nourishment, prompting concern from their school.
Brief periods of improvement would emerge, where Lakanwal would re-engage with social services, fulfilling the requirements of his resettlement. But these moments were fleeting, quickly escalating into “manic” episodes characterized by impulsive, long-distance drives.
He embarked on unplanned trips, driving non-stop to cities like Chicago and Arizona. He ultimately drove across the country from Bellingham, Washington – approximately 80 miles north of Seattle – to the nation’s capital.
Following the concerning emails, a representative from a refugee organization visited Bellingham in March 2024, attempting to offer assistance. However, the advocate was left with the impression that Lakanwal refused their help, receiving no further updates on the situation.
