In a shocking midday attack just blocks from the White House, Andrew Wolfe, a 20‑year‑old member of the West Virginia National Guard, remains in critical condition after being shot during a deadly ambush in downtown Washington, D.C., according to reports from his former high school and multiple news outlets.
Wolfe, who attended Musselman High School in Inwood, West Virginia, was confirmed by the school to be one of the two Guard members wounded in the attack. In a social‑media post, the school wrote: “Our Applemen community is deeply saddened to learn that Musselman High School alumnus, Andrew Wolfe, was one of the National Guardsmen injured in the shooting in Washington, D.C. today.” The post urged prayers for Wolfe, who is reportedly undergoing surgery.
The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon — around 2:15 p.m. — near 17th and I Streets NW, just outside the Farragut West station. The other injured Guard member, a female soldier, has not yet been publicly identified. Both were patrolling as part of a high‑visibility National Guard deployment in the capital.
The suspect has been named by authorities as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29‑year‑old Afghan national. According to official statements, Lakanwal walked around a corner and opened fire on the two Guardsmen in what police are calling a “targeted ambush.” After the initial volley, other Guard members returned fire, wounding the suspect, who was taken into custody.
The attack is being treated as a possible act of terrorism. FBI Director Kash Patel said the investigation is underway, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the shooting as a “targeted attack.”
In response to the ambush, the White House ordered an additional 500 National Guard troops to deploy to Washington, D.C., reinforcing already heavy federal presence in the city. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the move, underscoring the heightened security concerns after the shooting.
As the investigation continues, the nation watches anxiously. For now, Andrew Wolfe remains in surgery and in critical condition — a young man from a small West Virginia community, wounded in service, and now at the center of a national moment of mourning and concern.
