The Afghan national accused of gunning down two National Guard servicemembers had been living what looked like an ordinary family life in a $2,000-a-month apartment in a quiet, picture-perfect Washington state town. To neighbors, he seemed low-key — a dad going about his business. That illusion shattered Wednesday, when the FBI stormed his home in a dramatic predawn raid that left the community reeling.
Neighbors in Bellingham told Faqinsurances on Thursday that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was often spotted inside his sparsely furnished apartment, passing the time with Call of Duty and FIFA alongside his wife—who wore a hijab—and their five young children, leaving the tight-knit community stunned.
Neighbors said the refugees, who arrived in 2021 following the turbulent U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, didn’t have a single bed in their apartment. Inside the stark, barely-furnished space, they slept on what locals described as "some couch cushions they would sleep on," painting a picture of hardship that left the community both shocked and uneasy.
Locals said it wasn’t unusual to see Lakanwal inside, controller in hand, completely locked in as Call of Duty echoed through the walls of his apartment. REUTERS
"They never made a peep," one neighbor recalled, describing a family that kept entirely to themselves. Lakanwal spoke very little English, the neighbor added, and even his oldest child—at 14—rarely stepped in as a bridge to the outside world.
“Bellingham is very liberal,” the neighbor said, noting the area, which housed Afghan evacuees following the botched withdrawal, was “Very welcoming. Very diverse. Very open.”
Lakanwal, an Afghan war veteran who entered the U.S. through the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome program, allegedly opened fire on two National Guard troops just blocks from the White House around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the nation’s capital.
Investigators were seen trying to force their way into Lakanwal’s apartment in Bellingham, Washington, leaving the door visibly damaged in the process. Barbara Davidson
National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, were critically injured while on patrol during the attack, leaving the capital reeling from the shocking violence.
A third National Guard member rushed in and subdued Lakanwal, who was also left with gunshot wounds amid the chaotic struggle.
According to Beckstrom’s father, speaking to The New York Times, she sustained a ‘mortal wound’ when the assailant fired a .357 Magnum-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver at her head and chest.
About 16 hours after the ambush-style attack, a neighbor said federal agents forcibly breached Lakanwal’s mustard-colored front door, storming the apartment of the accused gunman.
“I heard loud banging on the door and guys yelling ‘FBI,’” the local recalled.
“They took everybody out of the apartment but I don’t think the kids were there. It’s pretty shocking. Every sign in the world is pointing [to Lakanwal being the shooter] but there are some things that just aren’t adding up,” the neighbor added.
“One thing that stuck out to us was that law enforcement didn’t show up until 16, 17 hours after it happened. It’s hard to [know why he did it] because you don’t know his mindset. You know if he just snapped.”
"Bellingham is very liberal. Very welcoming. Very diverse. Very open," one of Lakanwal’s neighbors said, highlighting the stark contrast between the town’s values and the shocking events that unfolded. Barbara Davidson
What drove Lakanwal to open fire remains a mystery, with investigators still searching for answers.
Described by authorities as a "targeted attack," Lakanwal reportedly drove all the way from Washington state to Washington, D.C., to carry out the shocking shooting rampage.
The CIA confirmed that Lakanwal had worked with its elite counterterrorism "Unit Zero" in Afghanistan. He now faces multiple charges, including at least three counts of assault with intent to kill and criminal possession of a weapon.
He faces up to 15 years in prison, but federal prosecutors warned Thursday that they will seek the death penalty if either of his victims succumbs to their injuries.
“I will tell you early, we will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster who should not have been in our country,” Homeland Security Secretary Pam Bondi told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”
