Injured Guardsman Andrew Wolfe begins to respond, gives thumbs-up and wiggles toes

WASHINGTON, DC: West Virginia National Guardsman Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, has shown his first signs of responsiveness after surviving a deadly ambush just blocks from the White House. 

The attack left Wolfe in critical condition and killed his fellow Guardswoman Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said Wolfe has begun reacting to nurses, offering a rare moment of hope as the state mourns Beckstrom’s death.

Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition

During a press conference on Monday, December 1, Governor Patrick Morrisey said Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition but has displayed encouraging neurological responses.

Morrisey said, “I want to say I’m not the doctor; I’m not going to try to pretend to be so. What I will say is that Andrew remains in [critical] condition. We did have some 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."

He added, "We were told that he also wiggled his toes. We take that as a positive sign. I’m not here to speculate, but I will say one thing: Melody, the mom, has been such a positive force, and she’s been asking people across the country to pray for her son, and those prayers are working. I want to continue, her only request to me is, 'Would you please get the word out that my son Andrew needs prayer?' And that’s what I’m going to do."

The ambush was allegedly carried out by an Afghan national who entered the US under a mass-entry refugee program in 2021, prompting renewed questions about security and screening policies. Wolfe continues to fight for his life as communities across West Virginia organize vigils in his support.

Tributes pour in for fallen Specialist Sarah Beckstrom

Governor Patrick Morrisey also reflected on the life and service of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, describing candlelight vigils held statewide in her honor.

“People were talking so eloquently about Sarah, who, by all counts, is an amazing woman who lifted up people around her with a smile. From talking to Sarah’s parents and to people in the unit, everyone had nothing but incredible things to say about Sarah. She’s someone who’s going to be remembered for a very, very long time. She had her life tragically cut short by this terrible act of terrorism,” he said. 

The governor noted that flags across the state have been lowered to half-staff since last week as part of an official proclamation honoring Beckstrom.

Vigils across West Virginia highlight loss and community grief

Patrick Morrisey said he attended a vigil in Martinsburg and visited Webster County, where residents gathered to support Andrew Wolfe’s family and remember Sarah Beckstrom. He described the gatherings as deeply moving, with community members sharing stories about both soldiers’ service and character.

“These are wonderful people, and the family is going through a very difficult situation right now as Andrew fights to survive. There are many vigils that are going on around West Virginia right now,” Morrisey said.

He added that details about Beckstrom’s service or funeral arrangements will be shared when available.