Warning Ignored About Afghan Terror Suspect
Leaked emails reveal that the primary national refugee agency was notified multiple times about an Afghan terror suspect, who had fatally shot one National Guardsman and severely injured another. Concerns arose regarding his potential descent into manic and psychotic behavior starting in 2023.
Despite these alerts, and his alleged failure to maintain necessary communication with state social services, he successfully obtained asylum in April of this year.
Community advocates found his actions troubling enough to reach out to various refugee organizations, as noted in an email to the United States Committee on Refugees and Immigrants. His alarming behavior prompted urgent requests for assistance.
It was reported that Rahmanullah Rakanwal had been struggling significantly, with one community member stating that “Rahmanullah has not been able to function as a person, father and provider since March last year.” This individual worked on the matter in January 2024 and commented on the drastic changes in Rakanwal’s behavior since quitting his job that month.
Local residents expressed growing fears that he might become suicidal.
The 29-year-old Afghan refugee, previously part of a CIA-supported Afghan Army unit, has been charged with first-degree murder following the fatalities of 20-year-old National Guard specialist Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Afghan Sgt. Andrew Wolf on Thanksgiving eve in Washington, D.C.
He arrived in the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Welcoming Allies, settling in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five young children.
However, he faced challenges in adapting to his new environment, struggling to secure regular employment or dedicate time to learning the English language, as detailed in the emails.
Witnesses described how he oscillated between feeling isolated and engaging in erratic behavior, sometimes disappearing for weeks, “not even speaking to anyone, not even his wife or older children.”
During periods referred to as “manic episodes,” he would take his family’s car, embarking on nonstop drives that could extend for weeks, reaching as far as Chicago and Arizona.
Moreover, he neglected to fulfill the requirement of maintaining contact with Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services, aside from a short period trying to comply with the expectations.
His mental state reportedly became so concerning that community members feared for his safety. There were incidents where his wife had to leave him with the children while visiting relatives, resulting in the kids attending school in dirty clothes and lacking proper food.
His behavior prompted the children’s school to raise flags, and at a certain point in 2023, the family faced the risk of eviction due to unpaid rent.
Responding to community emails, USCRI attempted to visit Rakanwal and his family in March 2024 but believed he declined assistance due to a lack of updates.
The exact motive behind the tragic shooting near the White House remains unclear. Reports indicate that Rakanwal drove from Bellingham to Washington, D.C., earlier in the week before opening fire on National Guardsmen around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
As of now, USCRI and the Washington State DSHS have not commented on the situation.
