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By Gabe Whisnant
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A West Virginia National Guard member critically wounded in a daytime shooting near the White House last week has shown small but encouraging signs of improvement, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Monday.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in serious condition after being shot while deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trump’s federalized crime-fighting initiative.
Morrisey said Wolfe responded to a nurse’s question with a thumbs-up and was able to wiggle his toes, signals that he said offered “hope” for his recovery.
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Why It Matters
Another West Virginia National Guard member, U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed in the attack. Morrisey said funeral arrangements for Beckstrom have not yet been finalized and that the state intends to respect her family’s wishes for privacy. “Andrew is still fighting for his life,” he said. “Andrew needs prayers.”
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What To Know
Wolfe’s family has asked for continued prayers as he fights for his life, the governor said.
Beckstrom and Wolfe were shot Wednesday afternoon just blocks from the White House while serving on a joint task force created under Trump’s order to federalize D.C. police in response to violent crime. Investigators have not identified a motive in the attack. Authorities said Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Trump administration halted all asylum decisions and paused the issuance of visas for travelers using Afghan passports. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the president directed him to send an additional 500 National Guard members to Washington, though Morrisey said West Virginia has not been asked to provide more personnel.
Roughly 2,200 troops are currently assigned to the operation in the city, according to the latest federal update. West Virginia deployed more than 300 Guard members in August, and about 170 volunteered to extend their service into the end of the year while the remainder returned home in mid-November.
What People Are Saying
Morrisey said Monday, “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."
Speaking Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem laid the blame for Lakanwal's entry and vetting on the Biden administration despite the current Trump administration approving his asylum application earlier this year: "The vetting process...happens when the person comes into the country. I will say we believe he was radicalized since he's been here in this country. We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state and we're going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him."
What Happens Next
Lakanwal, who was also shot during the confrontation, remains hospitalized and has not yet appeared in court.
Updates: 12/1/25, 4:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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