West Virginia National Guard Member Remains Hospitalized After Washington Shooting

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:11:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe is in serious condition following last week's shooting incident in Washington, D.C., which left one National Guard member dead. The community is rallying to support the victims' families during this difficult time.

In Washington, D.C., 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe is showing signs of improvement after being shot during a violent incident that claimed the life of fellow National Guard member, 20-year-old U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom. Authorities are investigating the motives behind the shooting, leading to the arrest of 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who faces murder charges.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia National Guard member, 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, is in serious condition after a daylight shooting incident last week in Washington, D.C. Wolfe has shown positive signs, responding to questions from nurses by giving a thumbs-up and wiggling his toes, according to West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey.

The family of Wolfe has requested that the public keep him in their prayers as he continues to fight for his life in the hospital. Tragically, another member of the West Virginia National Guard, 20-year-old U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, was killed in the same attack.

Governor Morrisey mentioned that he is still awaiting details on funeral arrangements for Beckstrom and aims to respect her family's wishes during this quiet time of grief.

Beckstrom and Wolfe were shot just blocks away from the White House while deployed in support of President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting initiative that involved the federalization of police in D.C.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault in connection with the shooting. He's currently hospitalized after sustaining injuries during the incident, and a court appearance has yet to be scheduled.

The shooting has sparked significant concerns, prompting the Trump administration to suspend asylum decisions and pause the issuance of visas for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. In the wake of the violence, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that the President requested the deployment of 500 additional National Guard members to Washington, though no current request for troops from West Virginia has been made. Currently, nearly 2,200 troops operate within the city, with over 300 deployed from West Virginia’s National Guard.

Governor Morrisey stated, 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. As this story develops, the community continues to rally around the victims and their families, offering support during this harrowing time.