WASHINGTON — Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, the West Virginia Air National Guard member critically wounded in last week’s deadly attack near the White House, is showing early signs of improvement, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Monday.
Wolfe, 24, had been hospitalized in critical condition after the shooting, which killed fellow guardsman Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20. According to Morrisey, Wolfe responded to a nurse’s request for a thumbs-up and later moved his toes — encouraging signs for a recovery that remains uncertain.
“We take that as a positive sign,” Morrisey said, adding that Wolfe’s condition has been upgraded to serious, though he emphasized that medical teams would determine the official prognosis. “I’m not the doctor,” he noted cautiously.
Suspect to Face Murder Charge
Authorities have identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, as the suspect in the attack. Lakanwal, an Afghan national who had assisted U.S. forces in Afghanistan before immigrating to the United States in 2021, was granted asylum during President Donald Trump’s current term.
He was also injured during the incident and remains hospitalized. Federal prosecutors say he will face a charge of first-degree murder.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said early assessments suggest the shooting “appeared to target these guardsmen,” who were among the first troops deployed under Trump’s recent plan to federalize the capital’s police force.
Federal Response and Policy Shifts
In the wake of the shooting, the White House announced an immediate halt to all asylum decisions and a temporary suspension of visa processing for Afghan passport holders.
Additionally, the administration ordered an extra 500 National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., though none were requested from West Virginia. About 170 West Virginia Guard members already in the capital are remaining voluntarily, Morrisey said.
Remembering Spc. Sarah Beckstrom
Beckstrom, who served in the 863rd Military Police Company, enlisted in June 2023 and had already earned high praise from her commanders. Her family is finalizing memorial arrangements.
Across West Virginia, vigils and ceremonies were held over the weekend in her honor — from church services and military bases to the high schools she and Wolfe once attended. A ceremony was also hosted Monday at the 130th Airlift Wing headquarters in Charleston.
Maj. Gen. Jim Seward, West Virginia’s adjutant general, called both soldiers “the very best of America.”
President Trump said Sunday that he had invited the families of both victims to the White House “when they’re ready,” acknowledging the emotional weight of such a visit.
Family Asks for Continued Prayers
Morrisey described Wolfe’s family as “wonderful people” and said his mother has urged the nation to keep praying for her son.
“She has been such a positive force,” he said. “Those prayers are working.”
A makeshift memorial now stands near the Farragut West Metro station, close to where the shooting occurred, as the community continues to mourn and await further updates on Wolfe’s recovery.
