NEW YORK (AP) — Cat Murphy, a college student, has wanted to be a journalist since she was 11. Many of her friends don't understand why.

The Afghan man accused of gunning down two National Guard members blocks from the White House last week had been unraveling for years. He couldn't hold down a job and flipped between long, lightless stretches of isolation and sudden weeks-long cross-country drives. Emails obtained by The Associated Press reveal mounting warnings about the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal. His behavior deteriorated so sharply that a community advocate who works with Afghan families in Washington state reached out to a refugee organization for help, fearing he was becoming suicidal. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to share undisclosed details while cooperating with the FBI in its investigation.