On the eve of Thanksgiving in Washington, D.C., a tragedy unfolded just blocks from the White House, sending shockwaves through both the military and Afghan refugee communities. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, was accused of gunning down two West Virginia National Guard members in a brazen afternoon attack. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, only 20 years old, succumbed to her injuries the following day, while Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. According to The Associated Press, Lakanwal has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently hospitalized after being shot by another National Guard member during the incident.
The events of November 27, 2025, have left many searching for answers. Who was Rahmanullah Lakanwal, and what led him to this violent act? The story that emerges is one of struggle, isolation, and missed warning signs. Lakanwal’s journey to the United States began in 2021, when he and his family were airlifted out of Afghanistan during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal, as part of Operation Allies Welcome. He had served in a special Afghan Army unit known as a Zero Unit—elite forces backed by the CIA and tasked with some of the most dangerous operations during the Afghan conflict.
Upon arrival in the U.S., Lakanwal resettled with his wife and their five young sons, all under the age of 12, in Bellingham, Washington—about 130 kilometers north of Seattle. Yet, despite the promise of a new start, Lakanwal struggled to find his footing. According to emails obtained by The Associated Press, his mental health began to unravel soon after arriving. A community advocate who worked closely with Afghan refugee families described a man "not functional as a person, father and provider since March of last year, 03/2023." The advocate, who spoke to CBS News through an interpreter and requested anonymity, painted a picture of a once-charismatic and gracious host whose personality took a severe turn for the worse in 2024.
The emails detail a troubling pattern: Lakanwal alternated between long, dark periods of isolation—sometimes spending weeks in his darkened room, not speaking even to his wife or older children—and impulsive, weeks-long cross-country drives. He would disappear for days at a time, traveling to places like Chicago and Arizona, leaving his family behind. During these stretches, his wife sometimes left the children in his care, only for school officials to later raise concerns about their well-being. The children would go unbathed, their clothes unchanged, and they would not eat properly. The family even faced eviction in 2023 after months of unpaid rent, according to the emails shared with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), a nonprofit that provides services to refugees.
Despite these red flags, those closest to Lakanwal never suspected he would turn violent. The community advocate who reached out to USCRI in January 2024 feared that Lakanwal might be suicidal, but "did not see any indication that he would commit violence against another person," as reported by The Associated Press. Nonetheless, the advocate described a man whose behavior had become increasingly erratic, alternating between attempts to "do the right things"—such as re-engaging with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, as required by his refugee status—and what the advocate called "manic episodes" where he would abruptly take off in the family car and drive nonstop for days.
In March 2024, USCRI attempted to make contact with Lakanwal and his family in Bellingham, following up on the mounting concerns. However, according to the community member, Lakanwal apparently refused their assistance, and no further updates were received. Requests for comment from USCRI have gone unanswered.
Adding to the complexity of Lakanwal’s mental state, a former Afghan commando told CBS News that Lakanwal was deeply troubled by the death of a close friend and fellow Afghan commander in 2024. This friend, the commando said, had unsuccessfully sought asylum in the United States—a loss that weighed heavily on Lakanwal, compounding his sense of defeat and isolation.
“Rahmanullah was a man who was extremely proud and capable in the world he came from, who felt defeated in the world he came to,” the case worker told CBS News. The challenge of assimilation, combined with his declining mental health, left him unable to hold a job or commit to his English courses. The emails described periods where his family resorted to sending his toddler sons into his room to coax him out or deliver messages, as he would not respond to anyone else.
The question of motive remains unresolved. Investigators are still working to determine what drove Lakanwal to drive across the country—roughly 130 kilometers from Bellingham to the nation’s capital—and carry out the attack. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., confirmed the cross-country journey, but has not released further details about possible motivations.
In the aftermath of the shooting, political leaders have weighed in with their own theories. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told NBC’s Meet the Press on December 1, 2025, that Lakanwal was “radicalized since he’s been here in this country.” She added, “We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and we’re going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him,” though she provided no further details. The suggestion of radicalization has sparked debate, with some officials calling for a closer examination of refugee resettlement programs and mental health support for recent arrivals.
Meanwhile, the families of the victims and the Afghan refugee community are left to grapple with the aftermath. The memory of seeing Lakanwal play with his young sons stands in stark contrast to the violence he is now accused of committing. For those who tried to help him, the tragedy is a painful reminder of the gaps in support for vulnerable newcomers—and the devastating consequences when warning signs go unheeded.
As the investigation continues, the story of Rahmanullah Lakanwal serves as a sobering reflection on the challenges faced by refugees, the importance of mental health care, and the unpredictable paths that trauma can carve in a new land.
