US National Guard Shooter's Descent into Isolation Raises Questions About Security Measures.
According to emails obtained by the Associated Press, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, spent 'weeks on end' in isolation before carrying out a shooting that killed one US national guard soldier and injured another on the eve of Thanksgiving in Washington DC.
Lakanwal's mental health struggles had been worsening over the years since his arrival in the United States, where he had settled with his family after working as an Afghan army unit backed by the CIA. The emails reveal a pattern of erratic behavior, including long stretches of isolation and sudden, weeks-long road trips across the country.
Community advocates and case workers described Lakanwal's deteriorating mental state, with one email noting that he had been "not functional as a person, father, and provider" since March 2023. Another former Afghan commando said Lakanwal was left troubled by the death of a close friend who had sought asylum in the US.
However, there were also periods where Lakanwal seemed to be making amends, re-engaging with social services and trying to reintegrate into American society. But these attempts were followed by "manic" episodes, characterized by weeks-long driving sprees across the country.
The shooting that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and injured Andrew Wolfe, 24, raises questions about how Lakanwal's mental health was monitored and whether security measures could have been implemented to prevent the attack. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Lakanwal as "radicalized" since arriving in the US, but provided no further details.
The case of Lakanwal highlights the challenges faced by Afghan refugees who have settled in the US, struggling to assimilate and deal with their mental health. As investigators continue to probe the motivations behind the shooting, questions remain about how to effectively support vulnerable individuals like Lakanwal and prevent such tragedies in the future.
According to emails obtained by the Associated Press, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, spent 'weeks on end' in isolation before carrying out a shooting that killed one US national guard soldier and injured another on the eve of Thanksgiving in Washington DC.
Lakanwal's mental health struggles had been worsening over the years since his arrival in the United States, where he had settled with his family after working as an Afghan army unit backed by the CIA. The emails reveal a pattern of erratic behavior, including long stretches of isolation and sudden, weeks-long road trips across the country.
Community advocates and case workers described Lakanwal's deteriorating mental state, with one email noting that he had been "not functional as a person, father, and provider" since March 2023. Another former Afghan commando said Lakanwal was left troubled by the death of a close friend who had sought asylum in the US.
However, there were also periods where Lakanwal seemed to be making amends, re-engaging with social services and trying to reintegrate into American society. But these attempts were followed by "manic" episodes, characterized by weeks-long driving sprees across the country.
The shooting that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and injured Andrew Wolfe, 24, raises questions about how Lakanwal's mental health was monitored and whether security measures could have been implemented to prevent the attack. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Lakanwal as "radicalized" since arriving in the US, but provided no further details.
The case of Lakanwal highlights the challenges faced by Afghan refugees who have settled in the US, struggling to assimilate and deal with their mental health. As investigators continue to probe the motivations behind the shooting, questions remain about how to effectively support vulnerable individuals like Lakanwal and prevent such tragedies in the future.
I'm just sitting here thinking... it's heartbreaking that a young man was struggling so much with his mental health. It's crazy how isolation can spiral out of control. I feel for the family, especially Sarah's parents who lost their child. 
... i mean, a guy who's just trying to rebuild his life after war and everything goes wrong? his mental health just falls apart and he ends up harming someone... it's crazy how some people can just slip through the cracks like that 
... what can be done to help these guys before they become violent? more funding for mental health services or something? 
... also, shouldn't homeland security have noticed something was off before this happened? I mean, weeks of isolation and then a spree across the country? red flags everywhere 
...
this is just another example of how broken our system is 
something needs to change, but I'm not sure what's more concerning - the fact that Lakanwal was able to get his hands on a firearm or the lack of resources available to him as an Afghan refugee struggling to assimilate 
it's like we're leaving these people high and dry, expecting them to just "make amends" and reintegrate into society after everything they've been through trauma is just not something you can just "get over" 
it's crazy how one of these lone wolf cases can slip through the cracks 
... i mean, months of isolation & erratic behavior before he snapped... how many others might've been missed? 
mental health struggles don't just affect individuals, they ripple through entire families & communities too 
70% experiencing anxiety or depression 
and it's not just Lakanwal, but also his community 
which is way longer than the recommended 1-2 weeks 
