Shooting reported near White House

[Sundog]

It looks like that he was not some how forced to work in a hospital laundry, or denied "meaningful work". Rather, personal choices centered on work discipline can make more advanced positions difficult to obtain.

That aside, I wonder what Noem means by "radicalization"?

No evidence of a manifesto with RL. No social media declaring allegiance to ISIS, Al Queda etc. No "justifications" by RL using the koran. And... apparently no Islamic terror group has claimed him.

I am thinking that, well, in a dark way, RL committed an "American" attack:

I don't like my life for a variety of reasons. I could well have moderate to heavy substance use. No immediate hope for a better future. The fact that I am responsible for my own predicament is ohhh so not relevant to me.

So.... time to rampage. And.... as @Telltale illustrated, the rampage was going to be a little more attention getting getting than shooting it out with police officer in small town USA during a traffic stop.

The Secretary of Homeland Security may have information that hasn't yet been released to the public. The FBI are still examining his social media and electronic devices, and his contacts in both San Diego and in the community where he lived in the state of Washington. I wouldn't rule out radicalization yet.

 

[Elley Mae]

https://www.ernst.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Senator%20Ernst%20Letter%20to%20DHS%20and%20DOD%20on%20Afghan%20Vetting%20PDF.pdf

Afghans selected to board American military planes in Kabul did not complete the long- established interagency vetting processes shared across the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instead, much of the vetting is occurring on military bases on U.S. soil.2 Furthermore, the State Department’s inability to facilitate or process SIV applicants on-ground, those that aided American operations in Afghanistan, fails our partners and breaks promises made to those who put themselves and their families at significant risk to aid U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.

 

[knla]

This article has a different take: Fellow Unit Member Says Alleged D.C. Shooter Felt Abandoned by CIA
When I first clicked on the article I was able to read most of it. When I
click now it's behind a paywall.

I didn't close the original window. I'll paste the article. Sounds like it might have been a red tape issue he couldn't get help with, that pushed him over the edge. He needed a work authorization card to get work.
ARTICLE
The alleged shooter of two National Guard members, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was struggling with mental illness, his ability to support his family, and, according to an Afghan veteran who fought with him, his pleas for help to the CIA went unanswered.

Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, served in a CIA-backed Afghan force unit, known as the “Zero Units,” in Kandahar. He is facing first-degree murder charges after Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died of her injuries following the Wednesday shooting near the Farragut West Metro station in Washington, D.C. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.

<modsnip: Copyright violation of more than 10% of article>

 

[Ontario Mom]

This article has a different take: Fellow Unit Member Says Alleged D.C. Shooter Felt Abandoned by CIA
When I first clicked on the article I was able to read most of it. When I
click now it's behind a paywall.

That article's take is basically, shoot Americans & blame America for it.

jmo

 

[knla]

Death of Afghan commander, financial stress surface in National Guard shooting investigation: Sources

The death of the commander -- whom Rahmanullah Lakanwal is said to have revered -- had deeply saddened the suspect, sources said.

abcnews.go.com

Additionally, multiple sources said that investigators are looking into the impact of the recent death of an Afghan commander, who allegedly worked with the suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

The death of the commander -- whom Lakanwal is said to have revered -- had deeply saddened the suspect, sources said.

This may have compounded on Lakanwal’s financial burdens, including not being employed, having an expired work permit and allegedly struggling to pay rent and feed his children, sources said.

The FBI, Homeland Security and intelligence officials are also investigating the possibility that the attack was directed by or inspired by international terrorists. But thus far, authorities have not publicly released any specific evidence tying Lakanwal to a terrorist organization and no terror charges have been filed.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995553287332917257

 

[PatLaurel]

This article has a different take: Fellow Unit Member Says Alleged D.C. Shooter Felt Abandoned by CIA
When I first clicked on the article I was able to read most of it. When I
click now it's behind a paywall.

From your link:

"Lakanwal was fired from his job at a laundromat because he lacked a work authorization card". How was he hired then?

" In September, Lakanwal’s nephew requested the Bellingham housing authority approve a move closer to an Afghan community."
"Lakanwal didn’t feel safe in Bellingham after he was assaulted when a man sprayed something into his eyes (...)
It is very important for him to be near his community and relatives to feel safe"
So, he has family in the US???

" (...) sometimes going weeks without speaking even to his family, to “manic” episodes, during which he would take off on sudden, weekslong cross-country drives, traveling to places like Chicago or Arizona." With what money and to do what???

"USCRI reportedly visited Bellingham in March 2024, but Lakanwal and his family refused their assistance, according to the AP report." I wonder why?

MOO JMO

 

[knla]

There was this movie a few decades ago with Annette Bening and a Bus that blew up. I looked it up and it was called The Siege. There was an Afghan who Annette's character had gotten intimate with against the rules of the intelligence agency she worked for. The Afghan was an undercover terrorist who had worked with the US when Russia had invaded Afghanistan. They were mad that the CIA had deserted them. The Afghan turned on Annette's character in the end when he turned out to be a bad guy. That's all I remember about the movie. I'll have to watch it again when I have time.
Here's a link: The Siege - Wikipedia

 

[fcavanaugh]

IMO, that RL drove across the country, ambushed and shot two U.S. National Guard service members, killing one and seriously wounding the other, and if the alleged “lying in wait” prior to ambushing the soldiers’ is accurate, is considered aggravating circumstances. IMO this crime was planned out, RL made deliberate choices and knowingly enacted.

RL will be afforded due process and treated the same in U.S. judicial system as any native-born American would for this type of crime, as he should be. Irrespective of any mental illness he may have, (if he has imo likely undiagnosed), *if* RL and his DT puts forth a NGRI plea, imo he likely won’t meet/clear the bar for legal insanity. It’s a very high bar with burden of proof on the defendant to prove with clear and convincing evidence they didn’t know right from wrong at the time of the crime.

We shall see what happens but based on what’s known so far (I’m sure there’s a lot more we don’t know like what LE’s found or will find on his devices etc), RL made a deliberate choice to drive across the country on a mission with a firearm in tow, knew exactly what he was doing and what he was about to carry out, had long time to think about during the cross country drive.

IMO my guess is RL will be convicted and sentenced LWOP (possibly DP if pursued), and receive mental health treatment in prison.

IMHOO

ETA-edited/removed sentence

 

[Ontario Mom]

Finally, some really GOOD news:

"The surviving West Virginia National Guardsman who was shot by a terror suspect near the White House is showing positive signs of recovery – but remains in critical condition, his home state’s governor said Monday. Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, has begun flashing a thumbs up and moving his toes when asked by nurses if he can hear their questions."

National Guard member Andrew Wolfe, shot in DC, has shown positive signs, West Virginia governor says

The surviving West Virginia National Guardsman who was shot by a terror suspect near the White House is showing positive signs of recovery – but remains in critical condition, his home state’s gove…

nypost.com

 

[Mauig’ma]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995553287332917257

Ridiculous

 

[Sundog]

This article has a different take: Fellow Unit Member Says Alleged D.C. Shooter Felt Abandoned by CIA
When I first clicked on the article I was able to read most of it. When I
click now it's behind a paywall.

I didn't close the original window. I'll paste the article. Sounds like it might have been a red tape issue he couldn't get help with, that pushed him over the edge. He needed a work authorization card to get work.
ARTICLE
The alleged shooter of two National Guard members, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was struggling with mental illness, his ability to support his family, and, according to an Afghan veteran who fought with him, his pleas for help to the CIA went unanswered.

Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, served in a CIA-backed Afghan force unit, known as the “Zero Units,” in Kandahar. He is facing first-degree murder charges after Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died of her injuries following the Wednesday shooting near the Farragut West Metro station in Washington, D.C. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.

<modsnip: Copyright violation of more than 10% of article>

From the article -

The AP reported that it examined emails sent to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) detailing the concerns. USCRI reportedly visited Bellingham in March 2024, but Lakanwal and his family refused their assistance, according to the AP report.

The shooter and his family refused assistance from the appropriate organization. Not much you can do to help someone who won't accept the help and support.

 

[knla]

This interesting terrorism study popped up when I was doing a search. It's an older document. It's a compilation of a lot of different terrorism studies.
International terrorism started in the late 1960's. I remember a lot of plane hijackings.

https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/208551.pdf

Evidence does exist that most major players in a terrorist organization are themselves, deeply traumatized individuals. As children, they suffered chronic physical abuse, and profound emotional humiliation. They grew up mistrusting others, loathing passivity, and dreading reoccurrence of a violation of their psychophysical boundaries. -To eliminate this fear, such individuals feel the need to "kill off" their view of themselves as victims. -A terrorism-prone individual is pushed over the edge by a trigger from the environment. -The vulnerable individual's self-esteem, mobilizes his "narcissistic rage,"
and propels him toward establishing or joining a terrorist organization.

 

[angelainwi]

This interesting terrorism study popped up when I was doing a search. It's an older document. It's a compilation of a lot of different terrorism studies.
International terrorism started in the late 1960's. I remember a lot of plane hijackings.

https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/208551.pdf

Evidence does exist that most major players in a terrorist organization are themselves, deeply traumatized individuals. As children, they suffered chronic physical abuse, and profound emotional humiliation. They grew up mistrusting others, loathing passivity, and dreading reoccurrence of a violation of their psychophysical boundaries. -To eliminate this fear, such individuals feel the need to "kill off" their view of themselves as victims. -A terrorism-prone individual is pushed over the edge by a trigger from the environment. -The vulnerable individual's self-esteem, mobilizes his "narcissistic rage,"
and propels him toward establishing or joining a terrorist organization.

Makes a lot of sense to me as a Trauma trained professional.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

This interesting terrorism study popped up when I was doing a search. It's an older document. It's a compilation of a lot of different terrorism studies.
International terrorism started in the late 1960's. I remember a lot of plane hijackings.

https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/208551.pdf

Evidence does exist that most major players in a terrorist organization are themselves, deeply traumatized individuals. As children, they suffered chronic physical abuse, and profound emotional humiliation. They grew up mistrusting others, loathing passivity, and dreading reoccurrence of a violation of their psychophysical boundaries. -To eliminate this fear, such individuals feel the need to "kill off" their view of themselves as victims. -A terrorism-prone individual is pushed over the edge by a trigger from the environment. -The vulnerable individual's self-esteem, mobilizes his "narcissistic rage,"
and propels him toward establishing or joining a terrorist organization.

These features are found in most killers. They don't have to be terrorists. IMO.

 

[angelainwi]

These features are found in most killers. They don't have to be terrorists. IMO.

Very true. Killers are damaged people who have in most cases suffered from severe trauma in their childhoods. It does not excuse them by any means, but helps us understand how their brains went so haywire.