The surviving West Virginia National Guardsman who was shot by a terror suspect near the White House is showing positive signs of recovery – but remains in critical condition, his home state’s governor said Monday.
Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, has begun flashing a thumbs up and moving his toes when asked by nurses if he can hear their questions.
“Andrew is still fighting for his life,” West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Monday. “Andrew needs prayers.”
Wolfe was rushed to a hospital in critical condition after being shot alongside 20-year-old Spc. Sarah Beckstrom while on patrol Wednesday afternoon in Washington, DC.
Beckstrom was shot in the head and chest, and later died of her wounds.
The alleged gunman, 29-year-old Afghan immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was also shot and stabbed in the altercation and remains hospitalized.
A motive for Lakanwal’s alleged attack remains unknown.
But Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem announced Sunday that the alleged killer is believed to have been radicalized after coming to the US in 2021.
Lakanwal was part of a CIA-trained outfit of Afghanistan locals who battled the Taliban during the US’ involvement in the country.
He reportedly suffered a mental breakdown over the violence he saw with the unit, but was allowed to move to the Seattle area after the US’ chaotic pullout from the Middle Eastern country in 2021.
The shooting has been deemed a terror attack, and Lakanwal has been charged with first-degree murder.
Lakanwal was subdued by two National Guardsmen who heard the gunfire and sprang into action. One was armed with nothing but a pocket knife and managed to take the alleged terrorist down, while the other shot him.
Wolfe and Beckstrom were among about 2,200 National Guard troops stationed in DC as part of the president’s crime-fighting deployment to the capital.
About 170 of them were from the West Virginia Guard, and had volunteered to stay on in November after the deployment was reduced.
Beckstrom had even volunteered for duty the day she was shot so that others could go home to be with their families for Thanksgiving.
“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,” Morrisey said of the remaining West Virginia troops.
