Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who was granted asylum in the United States despite warnings about his deteriorating mental state, is the terror suspect in the tragic shooting incident near the White House. Lakanwal has been charged with first-degree murder over the death of West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and the shooting of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, on the eve of Thanksgiving in Washington, DC.
According to the New York Post, Lakanwal was allowed entry into the U.S. through a program designed to aid Afghans who assisted the U.S. effort during the war, but concerns had been raised about his deteriorating mental health. He reportedly resettled in Washington state with his family where he is said to have “struggled to assimilate, failed to hold down a steady job or commit to learning English, according to [emails].”
“Lakanwal‘s behavior was so disturbing that a local community advocate reached out to a refugee organization for help, according to emails to the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) seen by the Associated Press,” The Post reports.
Lakanwal reportedly failed to maintain contact with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), as required by the conditions of his entry into the United States. The emails note that only during “interim” weeks would he appear to comply and “do the right things.” At other times, his depression seemed severe enough that one community member feared he might harm himself, the emails stated.
According to The Post, when his wife left him in charge of their children for a week while visiting relatives, the person reported that the children would go to school unwashed, wearing dirty clothes, and often without having eaten properly. In 2023, the children’s school expressed concerns about his behavior, and the family nearly faced eviction after several months of unpaid rent.
The refugee group aiding Afghans had reportedly warned authorities about Lakanwal’s unstable condition, but he still received asylum. He was approved as part of the Operation Allies Welcome program. This program has faced scrutiny for vetting flaws and data inaccuracies, raising questions about how thorough security checks were before granting asylum to thousands of Afghans. The shooting has led to a halt in processing immigration applications of Afghan nationals and a broad review of Biden-era asylum cases.
