In a case that’s sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital and the Afghan refugee community, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, stands accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House on November 26, 2025. The tragic incident claimed the life of West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and left Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, critically injured. Lakanwal, who arrived in the United States in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program with his wife and five young children, now faces a first-degree murder charge, according to The Associated Press.
Yet, as the investigation unfolds, a complex portrait of Lakanwal emerges—one marked by deep psychological distress, prolonged isolation, and a series of missed opportunities for intervention. Emails and interviews reviewed by the Associated Press, along with accounts from community members and officials, reveal that Lakanwal’s unraveling was neither sudden nor without warning.
Before his arrival in America, Lakanwal served in a special Afghan Army "Zero Unit," a group that worked closely with U.S. forces and, according to AP, was backed by the CIA. Like thousands of other Afghans who assisted American troops, he was resettled in the United States following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The family made their new home in Bellingham, Washington, hoping for a fresh start. But the transition proved anything but smooth.
Community advocates and those who knew Lakanwal describe a man overwhelmed by the challenges of starting over. He struggled to find stable employment, often unable to hold a job for long. According to internal emails obtained by AP, “Rahmanullah has not been functional as a person, father and provider since March of last year, 03/2023. He quit his job that month, and his behavior has changed greatly.” The emails, sent to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), painted a grim picture: Lakanwal would spend weeks in a darkened room, speaking to no one—not even his wife or older children. At times, he would abruptly leave home, embarking on long, restless drives across the country, sometimes to Chicago, other times to Arizona, and, as federal officials now allege, ultimately to Washington, D.C.
The family’s struggles extended beyond Lakanwal’s own isolation. After months of unpaid rent in 2023, they faced eviction. When his wife traveled for a week to visit relatives, the children reportedly went without bathing, clean clothes, or proper meals—concerns that did not go unnoticed by their school. The youngest sons were often sent to deliver messages or phones to their father because he would not respond to anyone else in the household.
Those who interacted with Lakanwal in Bellingham recall a man whose behavior was increasingly erratic. One community advocate, who worked with Afghan families and had repeatedly reached out to USCRI, voiced fears that Lakanwal might harm himself. “I was worried he was so depressed he would end up harming himself,” the advocate told AP. “But I never saw any indication that he would commit violence against someone else.” The advocate, who has remained anonymous while cooperating with the FBI, said they were stunned to see Lakanwal’s name in the news. “He was a father who played with his young sons. I never imagined he would harm someone else.”
Emails reviewed by AP show that warnings about Lakanwal’s mental state began as early as January 2024. The messages described cycles of deep isolation punctuated by what one email called “manic” episodes—bursts of activity that included cross-country drives. There were also times when Lakanwal seemed to rally, attempting to reconnect with state services or fulfill requirements tied to his resettlement. But these efforts were short-lived, quickly giving way to renewed withdrawal.
USCRI staff responded to the warning emails by visiting Bellingham in March 2024 to check on Lakanwal and his family. However, they received no response and were left with the impression that Lakanwal had refused help. Requests for comment and clarification from USCRI were not immediately returned, according to AP.
The shooting itself occurred on the eve of Thanksgiving, just blocks from the White House. Authorities say Lakanwal drove nonstop from Bellingham—some 2,700 miles—to the nation’s capital to carry out the attack. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, speaking in Washington, stated that Lakanwal “drove across the country without pause to reach the US capital and carry out the attack.”
As investigators work to determine a motive, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem offered a possible explanation on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” She stated, “Officials believe he was radicalized since he’s been here in this country. 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, who were his family members.” No further details were provided to support this assertion, and the investigation remains ongoing.
For many in the refugee and veteran communities, the case raises troubling questions about the adequacy of support systems for new arrivals—especially those who, like Lakanwal, carry the scars of war and displacement. Operation Allies Welcome was designed to provide a lifeline to at-risk Afghans, but as this tragedy underscores, the journey to safety is only the beginning. Assimilation, mental health care, and social support remain formidable hurdles.
Emails and interviews suggest that Lakanwal’s downward spiral was marked by missed opportunities for intervention. Despite repeated warnings from community advocates, and at least one in-person welfare check by USCRI, meaningful assistance never materialized. The family’s isolation deepened, and Lakanwal’s mental health continued to deteriorate, culminating in an act of violence that no one close to him saw coming.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Afghan community in Bellingham and beyond is left grappling with grief, confusion, and fear. For those who remember Lakanwal as a devoted father, the news is especially difficult to reconcile. As one community member put it, “He was struggling, yes, but we never thought it would end like this.”
The case has also reignited debate about the broader challenges facing refugees in America. While the majority of those resettled under Operation Allies Welcome have integrated successfully, Lakanwal’s story is a stark reminder that the path to healing and belonging is often fraught with obstacles—and that the cost of neglect can be devastating.
As the legal process unfolds and investigators sift through the evidence, the nation is left to reckon with a tragedy that, in hindsight, seems both shocking and heartbreakingly predictable.
