Overview
- West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe’s head injury is improving, with two to three more weeks of acute care expected and a hometown vigil held Friday night.
- President Donald Trump ordered U.S. flags at half-staff on Dec. 4 to honor Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and met with Wolfe’s family at the White House.
- Authorities say the Nov. 26 shooting near the Farragut West Metro, blocks from the White House, was a targeted ambush that killed Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Wolfe, 24.
- Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, has been charged with first-degree murder and related counts and pleaded not guilty in a virtual D.C. Superior Court appearance from his hospital bed; DOJ officials have signaled they intend to seek the death penalty.
- Federal agencies continue a terrorism probe, and the administration has launched reviews of Afghan arrivals and paused some immigration processing connected to the 2021 resettlement program, while debate grows over the Guard deployments to Washington.