Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, one of the two National Guard members who was shot in Washington, D.C., last month, has made “extraordinary progress” and transitioned from acute care to inpatient rehabilitation, his doctor said Friday.
Sergeant Wolfe, 24, suffered a critical gunshot wound to his head on Nov. 26 and was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, according to Dr. Jeffrey Mai, his neurosurgeon. Sergeant Wolfe underwent emergency surgery, and he is now able to breathe on his own and stand with assistance, Dr. Mai added, calling the developments “important milestones that reflect his strength and determination.”
“While this remains an early phase of healing, his progress gives us every reason to feel hopeful about what lies ahead,” the doctor said.
Sergeant Wolfe is one of two members of the West Virginia National Guard who were attacked the day before Thanksgiving near the White House. A man shot Sergeant Wolfe and Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom while they were on duty near the Farragut West metro station.
Specialist Beckstrom died one day later, on Thanksgiving, at age 20. She was laid to rest on Tuesday at the West Virginia National Cemetery, Gov. Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia announced this week.
“Sarah served her state and nation with courage well beyond her years,” Governor Morrisey said in a statement after Specialist Beckstrom’s private funeral service. “Taken from us far too soon, she will always be remembered fondly.”
Both Specialist Beckstrom and Sergeant Wolfe had been ordered to the nation’s capital by President Trump as part of his crackdown on crime. About 2,600 National Guard members are currently deployed in Washington, an uptick from the roughly 2,000 who were there on the day of the shooting.
The violence rattled the city and ignited debates about immigration and the role of the U.S. military. After the authorities identified the suspect in the shooting as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who came to the United States from Afghanistan during the Taliban’s takeover of that country, the Trump administration announced sweeping changes to the immigration system, including freezing asylum applications and putting on hold immigration applications filed by people from 19 countries.
Prosecutors have charged Mr. Lakanwal with first-degree murder, assault and two weapons charges. He made his first court appearance last week, remotely from a hospital bed, and entered a not-guilty plea.
On Friday, Melody and Jason Wolfe, Sergeant Wolfe’s parents, asked the public to continue to pray for their son as he begins “a long and tough rehabilitation.”
“We know he will continue to improve at a rapid pace and know your prayers are making the difference,” they said in a joint statement.
Pooja Salhotra covers breaking news across the United States.
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