The heroic National Guard soldier who survived the brutal shooting on Wednesday by a crazed Afghan man in Washington, D.C., is now responsive to the nurses treating him, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced Monday.
While West Virginia National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, “remains in serious condition,” he’s showing signs of movement and awareness, Morrisey said during a press conference.
“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. We were told that he also wiggled his toes. So, we take that as a positive sign,” Morrisey said.
“Melody, the mom has been so positive a force, and she’s been asking people across the country to pray for her son, and those prayers are working,” he added.
BREAKING: West Virginia National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe has responded to nurses after being injured by the Afghan shooter in D.C.
WV Governor: “Andrew was asked if he could hear the nurse and to give a thumbs up. He did respond.”
KEEP PRAYING!!! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rZr1sHZmT9
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 1, 2025
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of the West Virginia National Guard, passed away a day after she was shot alongside Wolfe while deployed to D.C. as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on crime.
Both soldiers “were sworn in less than 24 hours before they were shot on the street in Washington,” United States Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro revealed during a press conference Thursday morning.
“They were uniformed members of the West Virginia National Guard, and they were in D.C. to keep D.C. safe pursuant to President Trump’s executive order to make DC safe and beautiful,” Pirro said.
“They answered the call, they took the charge, they volunteered, they put their lives on the line for people they don’t even know, and that unfortunately is becoming a reality more and more for the members of law enforcement,” she said.
The suspect, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, entered the U.S. in 2021 as part of President Joe Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome,” the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire late Wednesday.
The program brought 77,000 Afghan nationals into the country during the botched U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He was granted asylum in April, according to CBS News.
After Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries, federal prosecutors upgraded charges against Lakanwal to first-degree murder, which could result in the death penalty.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday blamed the Biden administration for allowing the alleged shooter into the country.
“This attack underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation. The last administration let in 20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners from all over the world,” Trump said.
Trump has also responded by “halting” asylum decisions and stopping the issuance of visas to Afghans.
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