Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, the West Virginia Air National Guardsman left in critical condition after last week’s shooting near the White House, is showing the first measurable signs of neurological responsiveness, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, Justice reported that the 28-year-old sergeant — who remains hospitalized in critical condition — gave a thumbs-up and moved his toes when prompted by medical staff. Those small gestures, he said, marked a turning point in a case that has gripped Wolfe’s home state for days. “These are huge, huge steps forward,” Justice said. “We’re praying without ceasing for Sgt. Wolfe and his family.”
🚨 BREAKING: WV National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe HAS RESPONDED TO NURSES after being injured by the Afghan shooter in DC
WV GOV: "Andrew was asked if he could hear the nurse…to give a thumbs up. He did respond."
KEEP PRAYING, he can make it! 🙏
"We were told he also wiggled… pic.twitter.com/dsWIFyjnii
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 1, 2025
Wolfe was one of two service members shot on November 26 while walking near the White House Ellipse. U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed in the attack. The alleged gunman, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been charged with first-degree murder and multiple federal offenses.
News of Wolfe’s improved responsiveness spread quickly across social media, where a clip of Justice’s remarks drew thousands of shares and messages of support for the married father of two. Military officials and political leaders have continued to characterize the shooting as a targeted assault on uniformed personnel — a claim that has already begun to drive renewed scrutiny of security protocols in the nation’s capital.
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