Military Attack Accused Was Isolated for Weeks Alone in Room, Social Worker's Email Revealed.

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The individual accused of firing upon two National Guard members in Washington DC recently had reportedly spent weeks at a time alone in a dark room and experienced "periods of mania," as per comments documented in 2024 by a support worker that helped the individual's family.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is charged with carrying out an "ambush" that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Andrew Wolf, 24.

Officials said the man in his late twenties came to the US in 2021 as part of a programme for individuals from Afghanistan who had worked with US forces in Afghanistan.

Emerging Details on Mental Health

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

In a different message sent on 31 January 2024, the worker said Mr. Lakanwal "spends the majority of his days for consecutive weeks in his blacked-out room, refusing to talk to anyone, not even his spouse and children."

The case worker, who was not a mental health professional, also added Mr. Lakanwal had "hyperactive periods for one or two weeks at a time where he would take off in the family car." They also described he had times in which he would try to "make amends."

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Background and Current Developments

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 disorderly US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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

He lived with his wife and five children in a city in Washington state.

"Aid group workers are trying to patch things for that family - but I think the father has psychological problems that are not addressed, and he refuses to speak with anyone," one part of an previous communication states.

Last week, a childhood friend informed a newspaper that Mr. Lakanwal had dealt with mental health issues after his work with his unit in Afghanistan.

Mr. Lakanwal had reportedly been a part of a "Zero Unit" - an local intelligence and paramilitary force that collaborated with a US intelligence agency.

Official Response and Legal Proceedings

In the aftermath of the attack in Washington DC, the President vowed to "halt migration" from certain countries.

The administration has halted all refugee claims "until we can ensure that every individual is thoroughly investigated to the fullest extent," a director said.

Mr. Lakanwal, who was injured during the incident and remains in hospital, is facing homicide accusations.