National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe making strides in recovery following D.C. shooting

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, a member of the West Virginia National Guard, is showing signs of recovery following a shooting incident near the White House last week, officials confirmed. Wolfe was one of two National Guard members injured in the attack, which occurred just a few blocks from the Farragut West Metro Station.

A growing memorial outside the metro station honors Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who died the day after the shooting while performing high-visibility patrol duties. President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged her passing on Thanksgiving evening.

Wolfe, 24, from Martinsburg, West Virginia, and assigned to the 167th Force Support Squadron, underwent surgery after being shot on November 26, 2025. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey visited him at a hospital in Washington, D.C., where Wolfe remains in serious condition. During the visit, Wolfe was able to respond to a nurse with a thumbs-up and reportedly wiggled his toes, which officials cited as a positive indicator of his recovery.

Wolfes mother, Melody, shared an update on social media expressing optimism about his progress, noting that despite heavy sedation, he is moving his arms, legs, and mouth, with normal brain activity and pupil response.

Both Wolfe and Beckstrom had been deployed to Washington, D.C., since August as part of the Joint Task Force-DC mission aimed at enhancing security. Following the shooting, additional National Guard personnel were deployed to the city to support patrols.

The suspected shooter, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanulla Lakanwal, was hospitalized after being shot by another guard member. Lakanwal faces charges including first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and firearm possession during a violent crime. He previously worked with the CIA as part of a partner force in Kandahar before being granted asylum in the U.S. in 2024.

Lakanwals background and potential radicalization are under investigation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials noted he may have experienced post-traumatic stress and had struggled to establish stability in the U.S., raising concerns prior to the attack.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a targeted attack on the National Guard members, emphasizing the suspect's intent in driving across the country to carry out the shooting with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver.

Memorials with flowers, American flags, and military challenge coins continue to appear at the Farragut West Metro Station, honoring the fallen and wounded service members.

Author: Sophia Brooks