Newly obtained emails reveal that the Afghan man accused of gunning down two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House last week had been spiraling for years, displaying increasingly erratic behavior that prompted urgent pleas for intervention long before the deadly attack.
The messages, shared with The Associated Press by a community advocate in Washington state, document mounting warnings about Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an asylum seeker whose inability to work, long periods of isolation, and sudden cross-country drives raised red flags throughout 2023 and 2024.
The advocate, who assists Afghan families in the Bellingham area, provided the emails on the condition of anonymity while cooperating with the FBI.
Even after months of concerns about his deteriorating mental health, the advocate said they were stunned to learn that Lakanwal had been charged in the shooting that critically wounded Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24.
Beckstrom died from her injuries the following day.
Investigators say the attack, described as an ambush, unfolded blocks from the White House. Authorities have not identified a motive. Lakanwal is charged with first-degree murder.
Emails document a sharp decline
The emails, sent to the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), paint a portrait of a man struggling to adjust to life in the United States after fleeing Afghanistan.
Lakanwal, who previously served in one of the CIA-backed “Zero Units” of the Afghan Army, entered the country in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the federal program supporting Afghans evacuated during the US withdrawal.
He settled with his wife and five sons — all younger than 12 — in Bellingham, Washington. But according to the community advocate, Lakanwal’s behavior began to shift dramatically last year.
“Rahmanullah has not been functional as a person, father, and provider since March of last year, 03/2023,” the advocate wrote in a January 2024 email. “He quit his job that month, and his behavior has changed greatly.”
According to the emails, Lakanwal spent long stretches in a darkened room, refusing to speak even to his wife or older children.
At times, the family relied on his toddler sons to deliver messages because he would not respond to anyone else. Meanwhile, his failure to work led to months of unpaid rent and the threat of eviction.
The advocate said they feared he was becoming suicidal but saw no indication he would harm others.
Cycles of isolation and sudden road trips
The emails describe a pattern of alternating “dark isolation” and sudden, manic-like road trips. In some episodes, Lakanwal would abruptly take the family car and drive across the country.
He went once to Chicago, another time to Arizona, and, according to prosecutors, most recently to Washington, DC, where US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said he traveled from Bellingham to carry out the attack.
During periods when his wife was away, his children often went without bathing, with their clothes unchanged and irregular meals, prompting concerns from their school.
But after these episodes, Lakanwal sometimes attempted to reengage with required social service programs, including the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
Outreach attempted, but unclear what followed
In response to the advocate’s warnings, USCRI staff traveled to Bellingham in March 2024 to attempt contact with Lakanwal and his family. The community advocate said they received no updates afterward and believed Lakanwal declined help.
USCRI did not immediately return requests for comment.
National shock and ongoing investigation
The attack shocked communities in both Washington, DC, and West Virginia, where Beckstrom and Wolfe were deployed as part of a public-safety support mission.
Beckstrom, a 20-year-old Army specialist, died one day after the shooting. Wolfe remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Federal investigators continue to search for answers as they examine Lakanwal’s history, mental-health struggles, and the circumstances that led to the violence.
