Investigators are probing if PTSD was a potential issue that fueled alleged DC shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s rampage, sources stated Friday, given his time working in a CIA-backed Afghan unit that’s been accused of brutality.
Lakanwal, 29, served eight years within the Kandahar Strike Pressure often known as one of many “Zero Models” throughout US operations in Afghanistan, and was “accountable {and professional},” an ex-Afghan commanding officer instructed CBS Information.
However he has grappled with psychological well being points since touchdown in American in 2021 as a part of “Operation Allies Welcome,” a Biden administration program that helped Afghans who fought towards the Taliban flee the war-torn nation.
“He was identified for being accountable {and professional} inside his crew and had robust anti-Taliban views,” stated Lt. Gen. Sami Sadat, a former commanding normal of the Afghan Nationwide Particular Operations Corps.
The married father of 5 is accused of opening hearth on two Nationwide Guard members Wednesday, killing one and critically wounding the opposite after driving from Washington state to hold out the potential terror assault, officers stated.
A motive for the crazed noon ambush is unclear, however sources instructed The Put up one side the feds are investigating is whether or not he suffered from post-traumatic stress dysfunction, or PTSD, that will have worsened throughout his time within the US.
Legislation enforcement can also be exploring any potential international affect or a possible ideological grievance as a part of a wide-ranging investigation, sources added.
Lakanwal got here to America because the US was backing out of its conflict in Afghanistan, the place the homicide suspect was a part of the Kandahar Strike Pressure, or “03” unit, sources stated.
Sadat additionally stated Lakanwal was a part of unit’s operations crew.
When he moved to the US within the face of threats from the Taliban, Sadat claimed Lakanwal was “usually calm and maintained a clear document, although he suffered from PTSD.”
A US official transient on the probe additionally instructed CBS Information that Lakanwal had been disturbed by casualties suffered in his unit through the conflict, and was additionally upset by the latest killing of a detailed pal overseas.
Lakanwal’s childhood pal instructed the New York Occasions that the accused cold-blooded killer was rocked by the violence he witnessed in his house nation.
“When he noticed blood, our bodies, and the wounded, he couldn’t tolerate it,” the pal stated.
“It put a whole lot of strain on his thoughts.”
Lakanwal is accused of killing US Military Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and wounding Air Pressure Employees Sgt. Andrew Wolfe when he opened hearth in DC’s Farragut Sq. neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, main questions concerning the US approving his relocation to the US.
Whereas within the Center East, Lakanwal served within the Kandahar area with a Zero Unit, which was linked to the earlier Afghan authorities’s intelligence company and acquired coaching and help by the CIA.
Members that took up arms in Zero Models would have been subjected to in depth vetting, and continued to be constantly tracked throughout their tenure within the elite squad, sources stated.
American forces would have additionally had a file compiled on him, sources famous.
Whereas the US and different worldwide allies handled Afghans serving within the military or police power turning on their American counterparts, these so-called “green-on-blue” assaults weren’t a problem with the Zero Models, NBC Information reported in 2023.
“Whereas we couldn’t set up any connection between him and any terrorist group, we additionally can not fully rule it out,” Sadat instructed CBS Information of Lakanwal.
“Nonetheless, we are able to affirm that his background doesn’t present any hyperlinks to terrorists.”
An e mail in search of remark from Sadat was not instantly returned Friday.
It was not clear what vetting was carried out by the Division of State that granted Lakanwal a particular immigration visa. He utilized for a visa in 2024 and it was accepted in April of this yr.
Lakanwal’s brother was in the identical unit as his siblings and reached the rank of platoon chief, an ex-squad member instructed The Related Press.
Lakanwal, in the meantime, began out as a safety guard, however later turned a crew chief and a GPS specialist, in response to the Related Press, citing an Afghan man who stated he was the alleged shooter’s cousin.
Zero Models carried out covert operations and heart-pounding nighttime raids towards US enemies, but in addition turned infamous for allegations of utmost and indiscriminate violence, a Human Rights Watch report in 2019 said.
The models have been even dubbed “Demise Squads” for all of the disturbing allegations.
