West Virginia governor reports positive sign from National Guard member wounded in DC shooting

Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe is still in serious condition after last week’s shooting in Washington, D.C., and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the only request coming from Wolfe’s family right now is for people to pray as the young airman fights to stay alive. Wolfe is just twenty-four, and the updates from the hospital have been slow, but Morrisey said there was finally a small moment of hope when Wolfe responded to a nurse with a thumbs up and was able to move his toes.

Morrisey described that moment as “a positive sign” while stressing that no one is making guesses about how or when Wolfe might recover. He kept the focus on the family’s plea by saying, “Andrew needs prayer. That’s the only request his mother had please ask people to continue to pray.”

Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in the attack, was remembered as “an amazing woman who lifted up people with her smile.” Morrisey said that community vigils across the state have shown just how many lives she touched. He called her death the result of a “terrible act of terrorism” and ordered flags to remain at half staff until further notice.

About one hundred seventy West Virginia Guard members are still deployed in Washington, D.C., serving on a voluntary basis. Morrisey described the mission as “noble service” and said he continues to be proud of the Guard members who have stepped up during an already tense moment.

Maj. Gen. Jim Seward, the adjutant general for the West Virginia National Guard, spoke at the same news conference and said the entire Guard community, including those serving overseas, has been shaken by the loss and the injuries. Seward said, “We are a family of over 6,000. When we lose one, every guardsman I’ve talked to is grieving.” He added that Guard members on scene in D.C. responded exactly as they were trained to do. “They performed their duties as they have been trained,” he said. “We remain confident in their ability.”

Morrisey said he has spoken with President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi about the situation and that he believes there is a strong and ongoing “full investigation.” He made it clear that the state is not speculating about anything while the investigation continues. “We’re going to talk about this based on facts,” he said. “Justice must be done — and it will be done through our criminal justice system.”

Officials said the suspect in the shooting Rahmanullah Lakanwal was shot by another Guard member on the scene and was then taken into custody. He remains hospitalized. Lakanwal is a twenty-nine-year-old Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA before the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. A social worker who had been helping his family resettle in Washington state said he had been struggling with mental health issues in recent years.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Friday that the suspect would be charged with murder in the first degree. On Thursday, she said he was facing charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident today involving two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. Our thoughts are with the Guardsmen, their families, and their units during this difficult time. We are grateful for their service and the sacrifices they and their families make in service to our communities and our nation. Their commitment reflects the highest traditions of the National Guard. As the situation continues to develop, we ask everyone to allow law enforcement to conduct a full and thorough investigation. Please avoid speculation or the spread of unverified information, which can cause additional harm to those affected. We ask all to keep these Guardsmen, their loved ones, and their fellow Soldiers in their thoughts. We remain united in support of our National Guard family as we await confirmed information.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident today involving two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. Our thoughts are with the Guardsmen, their families, and their units during this difficult time.
We are grateful for their service and the sacrifices they and their families… pic.twitter.com/hE8BmO8cUQ

— Director Army National Guard (@ARNGDirector) November 27, 2025

Nesar, a 22-year-old Afghan who came to the United States weeks after Kabul fell, claimed that at the time of the assault on Wednesday, he had only started to integrate into American society. Fearing retaliation or being singled out by immigration authorities, he consented to talk to The Associated Press under the condition that only his first name be used.

“At last, my life was becoming simpler. I’ve mastered the English language. “I got a better job,” he declared. However, I went to the grocery store this morning after what occurred two days ago, and I must admit that I felt really uneasy among all of those individuals. Perhaps they are now seeing me in the same manner as the gunman, I thought.