by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The family of a West Virginia National Guardsman asked for prayers Saturday, saying he is “hanging on” after being shot near the White House along with a colleague who later passed away.
Republican Congressman Riley Moore, from West Virginia, said Saturday that the family of Andrew Wolfe, 24, is “committed to service.”
“His father is a deputy sheriff in the county next to mine, and Andy wanted to follow in those footsteps and serve his nation as a National Guardsman,” Moore told the Fox News Channel’s television program FOX & Friends Weekend.
“Andy is hanging on. And he is a fighter, and his family has told me that, time and time again, he is a fighter,” Moore added. “But above all, what they want here is for everybody to continue to pray. I believe in the power of prayer, and I can promise you his parents believe in the power of prayer. . . . Please keep praying.”
National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of West Virginia, died after the shooting on Wednesday in the nation’s capital.
CHARGES FILED IN WHITE HOUSE AREA SHOOTING
The alleged Afghan gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, faces multiple charges, including one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the Justice Department would pursue the death penalty against the suspect.
Authorities said the attack happened Wednesday morning local time near 17th Street and I Street NW, just two blocks from the White House and close to the Farragut West Metro station. Officials described the incident as a “targeted ambush” on the two uniformed National Guard members stationed there under Washington’s emergency public-safety deployment.
Witness accounts and official briefings suggest the gunman approached the Guardsmen without warning and opened fire at close range. Both soldiers were struck multiple times before police arrived and exchanged fire with the suspect, who was subsequently injured and taken into custody.
Beckstrom later died in the hospital, while Wolfe remains in grave condition according to his family.
TRUMP ORDERS IMMIGRATION FREEZE AFTER ATTACK
President Donald J. Trump condemned the attack as “an act of pure evil” and said the nation must “stand firmly behind our servicemen and women.” In response, he paused all immigration processing for Afghan nationals and ordered a full review of vetting procedures for those arriving under U.S. resettlement programs.
He also announced a broader security overhaul of National Guard deployments in Washington, directing agencies to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen protection for personnel assigned to public-safety patrols.
“This horrific ambush should never have happened,” Trump said, adding that the government would reassess every refugee and resettlement program linked to Afghanistan.
Federal authorities confirmed that Guard posts in the capital will be reevaluated and that joint patrols with local police will be expanded to reduce the risk of further attacks. Following the shootings, officials also said an additional 500 National Guard troops have been ordered into Washington, bringing the total force in the capital to more than 2,500 personnel. Authorities explained that Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through a special resettlement program for Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the war, prompting investigators to review his background, military ties, and any potential warning signs before the attack.
AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM UNDER INVESTIGATION
Investigators are now examining his background, including any past military or intelligence links, and probing potential mental-health concerns while maintaining that he appears to have acted alone pending further findings.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the attack “one of the most serious assaults on uniformed personnel in recent decades,” urging residents to remain vigilant as the investigation continues.
She said the city is coordinating closely with federal agencies to ensure the safety of National Guard troops who remain deployed across the capital during the ongoing crime-emergency response.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Eight prominent Muslim-majority countries announced their decision this week to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, a move framed by its supporters as a step toward stability — but viewed in Israel with deep skepticism given past regional failures in Gaza.
Nigerian police have confirmed that a large group of Christian worshippers were kidnapped by suspected Muslim gunmen from three churches in a remote area of Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State, reversing an earlier denial that authorities said had been “widely misinterpreted.”
President Donald Trump called off tariffs on U.S. allies opposed to his plans to annex Greenland after announcing a tentative deal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for a future deal on Greenland.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join the newly proposed Board of Peace, his office confirmed Wednesday, as a growing number of European governments signaled they will not participate in the initiative.
President Donald Trump said the United States is pursuing negotiations to acquire Greenland while ruling out the use of military force, framing the controversial proposal as a necessary security measure rather than an economic or mineral-driven ambition.
Gold prices surged to a record high on Wednesday as investors sought safety the deepest crisis in the transatlantic alliance in decades with U.S. President Donald J. Trump saying Europe “is not heading in the right direction.”
U.S. President Donald J. Trump marked one year since returning to the White House with a wide-ranging and often confrontational press conference, defending his record while renewing criticism of political opponents, major media outlets, and several U.S. allies.