Family of WVNG member wounded in D.C. shooting asks for prayers, Morrisey provides updates
By Autumn Shelton, RealWV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) Staff Sergeant Andrew “Andy” Wolfe needs prayers as he continues on his journey to recovery.
According to Governor Patrick Morrisey, who spoke during a press conference on Dec. 1, Martinsburg native Andrew Wolfe remains in serious condition following the deadly shooting that occurred in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. However, there is positive news.
“We were told that Andrew was asked if he could hear – the nurse who asked the question to give a thumbs up – and he did respond,” Morrisey said. “We were told that he also wiggled his toes. So, we take that as a positive sign.”
Andrew’s parents, Melody and Jason, have been asking for prayers for their son, Morrisey continued.
“These are wonderful people, and the family is going through a really difficult situation right now as Andrew fights to survive,” Morrisey said, adding that candlelight vigils are also ongoing throughout the state for Webster Springs native WVNG Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was just 20-years-old when she passed away from injuries she received during the shooting.
“From talking to Sarah’s parents, and everyone in the unit, everyone had nothing but incredible things to say about Sarah,” Morrisey said. “She is going to be remembered for a very, very long time. She had her life tragically cut short by this terrible act of terrorism.”
WVNG Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Seward added that the entire 6,000 member WVNG family is in grief over Beckstrom’s death and are continuing their prayers for Wolfe.
“Because Andy’s mom has asked for prayers, I will reiterate that I spoke with her last night before I left and she said if I got the chance to talk to anyone to please ask them to continue to pray for Andy, their family, Sarah’s family and for all of National Guard,” Seward said.
Although Morrisey did not provide details of the federal investigation surrounding the shooting, on November 27, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, held a press conference where she identified 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal as the alleged shooter.
According to Pirro, Lakanwal drove from his Belingham, Washington home to the nation’s capital where he used a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver to “ambush” the guardsmen in an unprovoked attack on Thanksgiving eve.
Lakanwal, an Afghan-national who entered the United States in 2021 under former President Joe Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome” initiative, was transported to a local hospital after being subdued at the scene, Pirro said.
As of today, Morrisey said that approximately 170 members of the WVNG are still on volunteer duty in the nation’s capital, adding that there is no specific date yet for the volunteer mission’s end.
National Guard members first arrived in Washington D.C. in August following an executive order by President Trump to keep the area “safe and beautiful.”
Morrisey originally announced that about 400 members of the WVNG would be deployed to D.C. as part of President Trump’s mission. Since that time, however, “Operation DC Safe and Beautiful,” run by the United States Marshals Service (USMS), has switched to a volunteer mission, despite nationwide calls to end the task force. All remaining guard members, aside from the 170 volunteers, have returned home.
In the wake of the shooting, U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, said that he will follow President Trump’s order for 500 additional members of the National Guard to deploy to D.C.
According to Morrisey, the federal government has not requested any additional West Virginia troops at this time.
RealWV will continue to provide updates as they become available.
