Childhood Friend of Accused National Guard Shooter Says Suspect Suffered From Mental Health Issues After Work in Afghanistan

"A childhood friend of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the man suspected of shooting two National Guard troops one fatally in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, said the Afghan national struggled with his mental health and was disturbed by his previous work in the military. Lankanawal, who was brought into the United States as part of President Joe Biden's Operation: Allies Welcome refugee program in September 2021. He applied for asylum in 2024, and his application was reportedly approved earlier this year."

"The units worked outside the usual chain of command and conducted night raids and clandestine operations, per a report from The New York Times. Described as death squads by Taliban officials and human rights groups, Human Rights Watch has claimed it documented instances in which the units were responsible for extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, indiscriminate airstrikes, attacks on medical facilities, and other violations of international humanitarian law."

"A childhood friend of Lankanwal, who spoke to The Times using only the name Muhammad due to fear of Taliban reprisals, said that Lankanwal was troubled by the death toll his unit had caused. He added that his friend had suffered mental health issues. He would tell me and our friends that their military operations were very tough, their job was very difficult, and they were under a lot of pressure, Muhammad said."

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is suspected of shooting two National Guard troops, killing one, in Washington, D.C. He entered the United States under Operation: Allies Welcome in September 2021 and applied for asylum in 2024, with the application reportedly approved earlier this year. Prior to arrival, he allegedly enlisted in Afghan paramilitary units called Zero Units that worked with Americans and were overseen by the CIA. Those units operated outside normal command structures and carried out night raids and clandestine missions. Human Rights Watch has documented alleged extrajudicial killings and other abuses; the CIA denies the allegations. A childhood friend said Lakanwal was troubled by the death toll and suffered mental health problems.

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