National Guard Shooting Suspect Was Isolated for Weeks Isolated in Bedroom, Social Worker's Email Indicated.

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The individual accused of firing upon two military personnel in Washington DC last week had according to accounts spent weeks at a time alone in a dimly lit room and experienced "manic episodes," as per notes documented in 2024 by a support worker that helped the individual's family.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is charged with perpetrating an "ambush" that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and seriously injured Andrew Wolf, 24.

Authorities said the 29-year-old entered the US in 2021 as part of a programme for Afghans who had worked with US forces in Afghanistan.

Emerging Information on Psychological State

According to electronic correspondence from last year, Mr. Lakanwal faced challenges with his mental health.

In a different message sent on 31 January 2024, the case worker noted Mr. Lakanwal "passes most of his time for weeks on end in his blacked-out room, refusing to talk to anyone, including his wife and older kids."

The case worker, who was not a mental health professional, also added Mr. Lakanwal had "manic episodes for a week or two at a time where he would drive away in the family car." They also described he had times in which he would try to "apologize and reconcile."

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History and Recent Events

Mr. Lakanwal, an citizen of Afghanistan, came to the US as part of the Biden-era resettlement program. This was during the period after the chaotic US military exit from Afghanistan.

He applied for refugee status in 2024, and his request was granted earlier this year.

He lived with his family in Bellingham, Washington.

"Aid group volunteers are attempting to assist for that family - but I think the father has psychological problems that are untreated, and he won't talk to anybody," one part of an earlier communication states.

Last week, a longtime acquaintance told a newspaper that Mr. Lakanwal had experienced mental health issues after his work with his team in Afghanistan.

Mr. Lakanwal had reportedly been a part of a "special unit" - an Afghan intelligence and militia that collaborated with a American spy agency.

Official Response and Legal Proceedings

In the aftermath of the shooting in the capital, the administration pledged to "permanently pause migration" from certain countries.

The government has halted all asylum decisions "to guarantee that every alien is vetted and screened to the fullest extent," a director stated.

Mr. Lakanwal, who was injured during the incident and is still hospitalized, faces murder charges.