Shooting reported near White House

[Sundog]

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It was not the job, JMO, it is how much he was paid, a young man, working for the US forces as opposed to regular Afghani peasants. I guess, a lot. And his English was not even good enough to live on it here. But, it is quite possible that he expected his job back home to be forever. And then, the troops and he were evacuated.

I think he felt unimportant, underpaid, overwhelmed in the US, with a large family and maybe too lazy to work in a laundry? Who could survive like this, work the lowest paid jobs to send their kids to the best schools? These would be the Asians (I saw Koreans doing it), but he is from a different culture. We don’t know how supported he was in his own community (perhaps he looked or behaved odd?).

Being an immigrant, I know that the life in the US is very straightforward and the rules are well-known, too. Everyone is expected to work. The main question is, English/no English. If English, then, plans, classes, exams, job. But, having own community or para-community are both very important because you look at the most successful peers and follow them. This is how everyone starts.

Honestly, I think Bellingham would be a very inconvenient place for everyone. I like their University, it takes good care of students and is getting better year by year. Outside of it, OMG…Cold + one definitely needs a car, likely, two for a family of six. Plus, “Seattle freeze” (and yes, people are friendly, but it definitely exists).

Communities live together and survive better in urban areas.

Then, the Mosque. I asked it, assuming that his family, like 80% Afghani, is Sunni, but his family could be Shia. Afghani are a tribal society, maybe he did not fit in with the majority? Even his mother tongue we would not know, could be Farsi (Dari), could be Pashto or something else.

And then, the mental illness. Was it a true condition for which he ought to have received help, or was it something he chose to self-medicate?

Federal authorities reportedly interviewed his family members in Washington state. So he wasn't alone in Washington, he had family close by. There were a lot of resources at his disposal. And why would he expect to earn a high salary here without having the credentials for a high paying job? He could have worked two jobs as many new immigrants do, in order to support their families and make a better life for themselves.

 

[Stunned]

The suspect arrived in the US in 2021 with his wife and five children. The family was granted asylum in April 2025. I too am curious whether the US can withdraw that asylum status and send his family back to live under Taliban rule. Is his family victims of tragedy, or will they be punished for his actions?

According to his family, he started working for US commandos at age 15. He worked with the CIA until age 25, when he and his family arrived in the US.

What happened next? Did he have a job? Was he allowed to work? What happened between 2021, when he arrived, and now, when he is really angry?

"The Associated Press spoke with the suspect's former landlord, who said he moved to the city of Bellingham in the far northwest of the US in 2021. He had his wife and five children with him."

VS schort asielverzoeken Afghanen op na aanslag op Garde in Washington

Voor de aanslag zit een Afghaanse immigrant vast. Twee gardisten raakten ernstig gewond.

nos.nl

I hope they won't be deported. They shouldn't be. I also hope he will be treated as a veteran with psychological problems who lost it. He helped us, we should help him. IMO

 

[justtrish]

Ipads aren't cheap, nor are the other electronic devices seized by the FBI at his apartment. No money left over for beds for the children, I guess.

I'm curious if there is any follow up for those who were brought here because they assisted US forces. US servicemembers often have the VA and while it has its problems, it is a bit of a safety net to at least try to help those who are struggling. No system is perfect of course and the VA certainly is not. Is there any type of recourse for those we are bringing in that we know saw war due to them working closely with US forces? Are they given medical care or is anyone following up to ensure they are adapting to this new country? It would seem not having beds for your 5 children after 4 years would be a red flag if anyone was checking in on this family.

 

[Sundog]

I hope they won't be deported. They shouldn't be. I hope he will be treated as a veteran with psychological problems who lost it. He helped us, we should help him. IMO

He murdered a member of the National Guard who was a soldier in the United States Army, a 20 year old soldier who was targeted and ambushed and murdered in cold blood. The U.S. Attorney has already stated that they will seek the death penalty.

In addition to this murder, he also attempted to murder an airforce Guardsman who is now fighting for his life and is in critical condition following surgery.

If he doesn't get the death penalty, then I think he will spend the rest of his life in prison, which is where he belongs.

Justice for Beckstrom and Wolfe.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I'm just assuming that anyone who worked as a translator for the the US government. and who was employed by the CIA for 10 years, will not be very happy when his next job is washing hospital sheets ... just an opinion.

That rather depends on how you define ability. This man is 29 but apparently has a child of 14 or 15, which strongly suggests that he was out of education by a similar age. It's unlikely therefore that he has any sort of qualifications which would open up skilled or well-paid work to him. Perhaps he expected the sort of lifestyle he had seen in TV or films (which is possibly where he learned his English) but became angry that it was not available to him. Perhaps the culture shock was just too great for him to actually integrate.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Ipads aren't cheap, nor are the other electronic devices seized by the FBI at his apartment. No money left over for beds for the children, I guess.

I wouldn't necessarily jump to those conclusions re the lack of beds. Some cultures sleep directly on the floor or on mats which are rolled up and put away during the day. The transition to sleeping on/in beds may be something which happens in time or in the next generation.

 

[Sundog]

I'm curious if there is any follow up for those who were brought here because they assisted US forces. US servicemembers often have the VA and while it has its problems, it is a bit of a safety net to at least try to help those who are struggling. No system is perfect of course and the VA certainly is not. Is there any type of recourse for those we are bringing in that we know saw war due to them working closely with US forces? Are they given medical care or is anyone following up to ensure they are adapting to this new country? It would seem not having beds for your 5 children after 4 years would be a red flag if anyone was checking in on this family.

The resettlement process for Afghans who assisted US forces appears to be fairly comprehensive, including medical and mental health services. See attached description of the resettlement program for at risk Afghans.

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/21_1110-opa-dhs-resettlement-of-at-risk-afghans.pdf

 

[Ky1711]

Rest in peace to them. I believe whoever did this was likely after the president not knowing he was out of state.

 

[fcavanaugh]

My heart hurts after reading the news that National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom has passed away. An honorable young woman just 20 years old, 20! young adult with her whole life ahead of her, ambushed, shot and killed while just trying to do her job. Horrific.
My thoughts are with Sarah Beckman’s family. Must be absolutely devastating for them to have their Daughter, family member stolen from them in such a violent manner. Heartbreaking.

As for the monster that shot and killed Sarah, shot and wounded her fellow Guardsman who’s in critical condition fighting for his life, he’s nothing but a loser and coward.
I’m more concerned for the poor victims and their families than about the monster and why he did this. I’m sure he wasn’t the only Afghani that assisted US forces, and I’d guess most that have assisted haven’t gone out and cold bloodedly gunned down innocent people in the street.

His poor wife and 5 children that reportedly didn’t even have beds to sleep on while he sat and played video games all day???? wtafudge? If that is all true, imo it’s quite neglectful and very selfish.

IMO there is never a good reason or explanation for why someone chooses to cold bloodedly shoot and take the life(s) of innocent human being(s). While I get being curious about what motivated the shooter/killer, learning about his background, and positing guesses, theories about the why/reason he did this, I think it’s very hard, if not impossible for rational, civilized, law abiding citizens to understand warped mindsets of these disturbed perpetrators that commit such atrocities. It’s nonsensical, uncivilized, evil.
And no matter what the perp may think like maybe he thinks what he did was justified, imo there’s no excuse or justification for cold blooded shooting/murder, none.

If I were to guess, based on what’s been released so far this was a premeditated attack borne from anger, rage, perceived injustice etc, similar to many other deranged, unhinged perpetrators of Mass shootings/murders that have happened in this country, which is far too many.

Further, imo lots of people struggle with PTSD and other mental health conditions and most, I’d argue majority, don’t choose to go around gunning people down in cold blood.

IMO this guy made a choice, a very bad one and choices have consequences i.e., be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law for his evil, heinous crime.
May Justice be swift and harsh.

Sad thing is, for every one of these unhinged loons that gets caught unfortunately someone else out there somewhere is currently thinking about and planning the next attack on innocent humanity. IMO It’s not if but when the next shooting/mass attack on innocent people just going about their day at work, school, church, walking down sidewalk/street etc., will happen. The unfortunate reality of the world we live in today. Sad and Scary.
As I opined on another case thread recently, we live in a cesspool society in desperate need of cleanup. STAT.

Thank you for your service and rest in gentle peace Sarah.

IMHOO

 

[PatLaurel]

Logical question, did his family get the money? Did they even know about “the three letters”?

The account has since been deleted. The archived link dated April 2022 shows $150 about an hour after launch. The goal was $15k.

 

[Charlot123]

Federal authorities reportedly interviewed his family members in Washington state. So he wasn't alone in Washington, he had family close by. There were a lot of resources at his disposal. And why would he expect to earn a high salary here without having the credentials for a high paying job? He could have worked two jobs as many new immigrants do, in order to support their families and make a better life for themselves.

Absolutely. And mostly, he was lucky to end up here, with wife and kids.

But something didn’t work. The question is, what? I think that his relatives and more so, the Afghani community will be honest as to what went wrong with him. MOO - it will end up a garden-variety psychosis and sadly, for garden-variety reasons, but I might be wrong.

 

[Simply Southern]

Mental health is an important topic. It may be a factor for this former upstanding US employee, who may have experienced difficulty coping after he was isolated from colleagues and community in Bellingham ... and facing no future beyond handling soiled hospital sheets.

Did he live with daily fear that ICE would grab him off the street, throw him in prison, and hand him over to the Taliban?

Why didn't his children have beds? That suggests mental health issues.

They were given full "benefits", granted VISAs, guaranteed income, full medical insurance, assistance navigating life in the US. They were granted additional assistance, especially financially through the US refugee resettlement program.
They were eligible for two financial and physical assistance programs.

It is odd that they had a gaming system and online Internet to play Call of duty but no beds, hum.

Operation Allies Welcome | Homeland Security

President Biden has directed the DHS to serve as the lead agency coordinating ongoing efforts across the federal government to resettle vulnerable Afghans.

www.dhs.gov

Benefits for Refugees

Benefits for Refugees

acf.gov

 

[fcavanaugh]

My heart hurts after reading the news that National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom has passed away. An honorable young woman just 20 years old, 20! young adult with her whole life ahead of her, ambushed, shot and killed while just trying to do her job. Horrific.
My thoughts are with Sarah Beckman’s family.

Quoting my own post as too late to edit. Snipped and BBM above-correction for accuracy and respect for Sarah and her family: Beckstrom

Weird, last name posted correctly in the first sentence but not in the last one. Apologies as I was posting from my phone and sometimes it does weird random autocorrects ugh.
I usually catch it and fix before posting but missed it this time. I’ll blame it on the fact that it was wee hour of the morning when I posted.

IMHO

 

[Simply Southern]

He already had 5 kids at the age of 25?

I know nothing justifies any of this, but that's a big stressor right there.

RIP Sarah Beckstrom.

He is 29 and has a 14 yo, fathering the child at age 15. Moo

 

[Simply Southern]

Everything I read states he was a translator. How can you translate when you know so little English? Moo

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1994383580235997480

 

[Ontario Mom]

I hope they won't be deported. They shouldn't be. I also hope he will be treated as a veteran with psychological problems who lost it. He helped us, we should help him. IMO

I hope he receives the death penalty. He's earned it.

 

[Elley Mae]

Rahmanullah Lakanwal was allegedly lying in wait before he rounded the corner near the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest DC around 2:15 p.m., then opened fire, striking a female guard in the chest before shooting her in the head, according to law enforcement sources.

Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who came to US in 2021 withdrawal, ID’d as alleged terrorist gunman in shooting of 2 National Guard members in DC

The crazed gunman who shot two National Guard troops in an ambush attack near the White House Wednesday has been identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national who came to the US during the chaotic 20…

nypost.com

…

Death penalty asap.

Jmo

 

[knla]

Multiple law enforcement sources told CBS News on Thursday that a running theory of investigators is that the suspect suffered from paranoia and other mental health challenges that indicated he believed authorities sought to deport him from the U.S.

D.C. National Guard shooting suspect identified as Afghan national who had worked with CIA. Here's what we know.

A 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been identified as the suspected shooter in the ambush that killed one National Guard member and wounded another in D.C., officials say.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[knla]

Hero National Guardsman filmed taking down DC shooter

The unknown soldier let off five rounds immediately after Lakanwal, 29, is said to have ambushed Andrew Wolfe, 24, and Sarah Backstrom, 20, who has since died.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Rahmanullah Lakanwal with his .357 revolver.