A member of the West Virginia National Guard who survived a deadly ambush in the American capital is on a slow but positive path to recovery, the state's governor has confirmed.
Governor Confirms Guard Member's Gradual Improvement
Governor Patrick Morrisey stated on Friday that Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe's head wound is slowly improving. In an official statement quoting Wolfe's parents, the Governor noted the 24-year-old is beginning to "look more like himself."
The incident occurred on November 26, when Wolfe and fellow Guardsman Spc. Sarah Beckstrom were ambushed while patrolling a subway station located just three blocks from the White House. Tragically, Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries the following day.
Charges Filed and Community Support
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who was also shot during the confrontation, now faces a murder charge. He has entered a plea of not guilty.
Governor Morrisey shared that Wolfe's family anticipates he will require acute medical care for another two to three weeks. He publicly asked West Virginians and Americans across the nation to continue their prayers for the wounded serviceman. In a show of solidarity, a vigil was scheduled for Friday night at Musselman High School in Berkeley County, Wolfe's alma mater.
Profile of a Serviceman
Staff Sgt. Wolfe, from Martinsburg, West Virginia—approximately 75 miles northwest of Washington D.C.—was assigned to the Force Support Squadron, 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard. He joined the Guard in 2019, the same year he graduated from Musselman High.
His former principal, Alicia Riggleman, described Wolfe as an engaged and high-achieving student who "embodied the Applemen spirit, contributing positively to our school community both academically and athletically." In civilian life, Wolfe has worked as a lineman for Frontier Communications since early 2023.
Wolfe and Beckstrom were part of a deployment of more than 2,000 troops sent to the capital. This deployment was under the remit of former President Donald Trump's crime-fighting mission, which involved taking over local police department operations.
