Washington, D.C. officials released new details Monday on the condition of a West Virginia National Guard member who survived a brazen daytime attack near the White House last week, offering a rare moment of hope after a shooting that left one young soldier dead and another fighting for his life.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey said 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was critically wounded in the Nov. 26 ambush, showed encouraging signs over the weekend. Wolfe was able to give a thumbs-up to indicate he heard a nurse’s question and also managed to wiggle his toes — two major indications that he is responding to care despite the severity of his injuries.
“Andrew is still fighting for his life,” Morrisey said Monday, noting that Wolfe’s family has asked the public to continue praying for him.
Wolfe and 20-year-old U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, both members of the West Virginia National Guard, were walking in a busy area near the Farragut West Metro station — roughly two blocks from the White House — when they were shot in what authorities described as a “targeted attack.” Beckstrom died from her injuries the following day, a loss that devastated her hometown of Summersville and prompted vigils across the state.
Officials identified the suspected gunman as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the United States after being granted asylum. Police arrested him moments after the shooting and have since charged him with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Federal authorities are also reviewing his immigration background and any potential ideological motives, though investigators have not publicly tied him to a specific extremist group.
The details surrounding the attack — particularly the suspect’s asylum status — has intensified criticism of the Biden-era immigration pipeline that allowed thousands of Afghan nationals into the country with limited vetting. Multiple lawmakers have already demanded briefings from federal agencies, arguing the shooting exposes systemic failures in the asylum system and national-security screening.
For West Virginia, the tragedy has become deeply personal. Beckstrom, who served in the 863rd Military Police Company, was remembered as a compassionate young woman dedicated to service. Her high school held a memorial where teachers and classmates described her as someone who “showed up for everyone.”
Wolfe, a member of the 167th Airlift Wing’s Force Support Squadron, remains in critical condition at a D.C. hospital. Morrisey said his family has been by his side around the clock and is overwhelmed by the support pouring in from across the state.
The attack also raised alarms inside the National Guard community. Both soldiers were in Washington as part of a legal training program, and the shooting occurred during what should have been a routine walk through a heavily trafficked, government-dense section of the city. The violence has led to renewed calls for increased protection for Guard members and service personnel temporarily assigned to the nation’s capital.
“Our sole focus right now is looking after the well-being of the 170 service members who are on the ground, focusing on the family, assuring that prayers are going out,” Morrisey added.
