West Virginia National Guard Member Recovering After D.C. Shooting

Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, a member of the West Virginia National Guard, is showing signs of recovery after being critically injured in a shooting near the White House on November 26. The attack also claimed the life of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who succumbed to her injuries the following day.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey provided an update on Wolfe's condition, stating that his head wound is slowly healing and that he is beginning to "look more like himself." The family anticipates that Wolfe will remain in acute care for another two to three weeks and remains optimistic about his progress.

The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been charged with first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill. He pleaded not guilty during a court appearance conducted via video from his hospital bed. Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program, had previously served in a CIA-backed Afghan counterterrorism unit.

In response to the incident, the Trump administration has halted all asylum decisions and suspended visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. President Donald Trump described the shooting as a "terrorist attack" and criticized prior resettlement initiatives for allowing potentially dangerous individuals into the country.

Wolfe, 24, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, joined the National Guard in 2019 and has earned multiple commendations since. He and Beckstrom were among over 2,000 troops deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal crime-fighting initiative.