Dec. 1 (UPI) — The medical condition is improving for U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, one of two National Guard members from West Virginia shot a few blocks from the White House last week, the governor and his mother said.
A memorial is growing outside the Farragut West Metro Station, where the shooting occurred at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died one day after the attack outside the Farragut West Metro Station while conducting high-visibility patrols. President Donald Trump announced her death on Thanksgiving night.U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, a West Virginia National Guard Airman with the 167th Force Support Squadron, was wounded in a shooting near the Farragut Square Metro Station in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris/U.S. Army National Guard/UPI
Wolfe, 24, underwent surgery after the attack at 2:15 p.m.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrissey has visited him at the undisclosed hospital in the nation’s capital.
“I want to say I’m not the doctor. I’m not going to try to pretend to be so. What I will say is that Andrew remains in serious condition,” Morrissey said at a news conference Monday at the state’s capital in Charleston.
Though he is “fighting for his life,” the governor said Wolfe was able to respond when a nurse asked him to give a thumbs-up if he could hear her.
“We were told that he also wiggled his toes,” Morrisey told reporters. “So, we take that as a positive sign.”
He added: “I’m not here to speculate.”
Wolfe’s mother, Melody, posted Sunday on Facebook: “We continue to have complete faith in a total healing of our sweet Andy. He is remaining stable, with good vital signs, and while being heavily sedated, he still continues to be very active. Moving his arms, legs, and mouth. His pupils are dilating normally and his brain pressure is normal. All huge wins!”
She is appreciative of all the support.
“We know there is a long road to go, but our faith keeps us hopeful. We remain grateful for the prayers and support of people all over the world. Our God is so good and I will continue to say this,” she said. “Andy will have one heck of a testimony to share with all! We are praying for faith to be renewed in those who need it and for non-believers to come to know Jesus as they witness this miracle happening with our precious boy.
Wolfe, a Martinsburg, W.V., native, enlisted in the National Guard in February 2019.
West Virginians were deployed in the nation’s capital since the Joint Task Force-DC mission began in August, ostensibly to cut down on crime. In all, there are 2,500 troops, including around 180 from West Virginia, with an additional 500 called up after the shooting to patrol the capital.
Morrisey said that over the weekend, he attended several vigils in West Virginia for the National Guard Members. He also visited
“People were talking so eloquently about Sarah, who by all accounts is an amazing woman who lifted up people around her with a smile,” Morrisey said. “And from talking to Sarah’s parents and people in the unit, everyone had nothing but incredible things to say about Sarah.”
Memorials also have appeared at the site of the shooting.
Suspect remains in hospital
The suspect, Rahmanulla Lakanwal, 29, is hospitalized after being shot by another guard member and will face a first-degree murder charge, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Friday.
He also is facing three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. It is unclear when those charges will be unsealed.
Lakanwal is an Afghan national who worked with the CIA when the United States was involved in the war in the Middle East.
He was a member of a partner force in Kandahar, “which ended in 2021 following the withdrawal from Afghanistan,” according to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Though he was vetted before coming to the United States, Ratcliff said: “This individual — and so many others — should have never been allowed to come here.”
Like thousands of other Afghans, he came to the United States during the Biden administration. That included family members.
He applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum in April, under the Trump administration, according to ABC sources.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said 8,000 from Afghanistan have been granted asylum.
“During my tenure, we are going through the databases to make sure that no known or suspected terrorists enter this country to harm our nation,” FBI Director Kash Patel told the Senate Judiciary Committee in September.
Because of an expired work permit, ABC reported he couldn’t find a job and was relying on others for rent and food.
A refugee volunteer told NPR that: “My biggest concern was that [Lakanwal] would harm himself. “I worried he would be suicidal because he was so withdrawn.”
The volunteer, who didn’t want to be identified, said Lakanwal was first met in 2022 at his home.
“He was outside with his kids, laughing and playing and having animated conversations with other Afghan men,” the person said.
The suspect likely was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the person said.
He drove from his residence in Bellingham, Wash., to the nation’s capital.
“Somebody drove across the country to Washington, D.C., to attack America,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a news conference last week.
“What we know is that this is a targeted shooting and one individual appeared to target these guardsmen.
He used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, officials said.
“As we continue to talk with his family and his contacts, more details will be revealed and we’ll release those when it’s appropriate,” Noem said.
“Since he’s been here, we believe he could have been radicalized in his home community, his home state, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noel said Sunday on This Week. “As we continue to talk with his family and his contacts, more details will be revealed and we’ll release those when it’s appropriate.”
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