Military Attack Suspect Was Isolated for Weeks Alone in Room, Case Worker's Message Indicated.

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The man accused of shooting two military personnel in the nation's capital recently had reportedly passed weeks at a time in solitude in a dark room and experienced "manic episodes," according to notes documented in 2024 by a case worker that helped the suspect's family.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of carrying out an "ambush" that took the life of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Andrew Wolf, 24.

Authorities stated the man in his late twenties came to the US in 2021 as part of a programme for Afghans who had assisted US forces in Afghanistan.

Revealed Information on Psychological State

Based on electronic correspondence from last year, Mr. Lakanwal faced challenges with his mental health.

In a separate email sent on 31 January 2024, the case worker said Mr. Lakanwal "spends the majority of his days 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 said Mr. Lakanwal had "manic episodes for one or two weeks at a time where he would drive away in the family car." They also mentioned he had periods in which he would try to "apologize and reconcile."

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History and Recent Developments

Mr. Lakanwal, an Afghan national, entered the US via the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome. This was in the wake after the disorderly US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He applied for asylum in 2024, and his application was granted recently.

He lived with his family in Bellingham, Washington.

"World Relief volunteers are trying to patch things for that family - but I think the father has psychological problems that are not addressed, and he won't talk to anybody," a section of an earlier communication states.

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

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

Official Reaction and Legal Proceedings

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

The government has halted all refugee claims "until we can ensure that every individual is vetted and screened to the fullest extent," a director said.

Mr. Lakanwal, who was injured in the event and is still hospitalized, is facing homicide accusations.