West Virginia National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe posted his thanks to well-wishers on social media Tuesday, months after he was shot in the District.
“I’m grateful to be alive. Thank you for your prayers and support. It’s all been overwhelming and I’m trying still and determined. It’s been hard to go through something like this. Thank you for everything,” Mr. Wolfe wrote.
Mr. Wolfe and Spc. Sarah Beckstrom were on duty as part of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Taskforce near the Farragut West Metrorail station in Northwest on Nov. 26, 2025, when they were shot. Beckstrom died of her injuries.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29 is accused of ambushing and shooting the pair.
Mr. Lakanwal, an Afghan national who came to the U.S. in 2021 as a refugee and former member of an anti-Taliban military unit following the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, appeared in federal court Wednesday.
He entered a plea of not guilty through a Pashto-speaking interpreter and remains in custody. He is due back in court on May 6, according to court records.
Mr. Lakanwal faces charges including premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed, transporting a gun and ammo in interstate commerce while intending to commit a felony, and four counts of possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said last month.
He is also charged with two more counts of assault with the intent to kill for his alleged attacks against two other National Guard members who subdued him, federal prosecutors said.
Mr. Lakanwal previously entered a not guilty plea in D.C. Superior Court on charges of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed and gun offenses in early December.
