Afghan suspect in DC National Guard attack appeared to suffer personal crisis

Brian Mann

December 01, 2025 / 12:32 pm

When Rahmanullah Lakanwal came to the U.S. from Afghanistan he appeared lively and full of hope, but over the course of years, he slipped into isolation and was prone to taking cross country drives without telling his family, according to a volunteer who worked closely with his family.

Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers on November 26. One of those soldiers, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, died from her wounds. On Monday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey described the other guardsman, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, as in "serious" condition.

"My biggest concern was that [Lakanwal] would harm himself," the refugee resettlemen

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