Incident Details
A dramatic scene unfolded near the home of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor early Friday morning. At approximately 1:17 a.m., an 18-year-old named Kintrell Flowers approached a car parked in front of Sotomayor’s Washington, D.C. residence.
The Attempted Carjacking
Flowers attempted to carjack the vehicle by pointing a gun at the occupants. Unbeknownst to him, the car’s occupants were Deputy U.S. Marshals assigned to protect the Supreme Court Justice’s home.
Response by U.S. Marshals
One of the Deputy U.S. Marshals fired four shots, wounding Flowers in the mouth. The second U.S. Marshal also fired shots. Police have indicated that the incident appears to be random, with no direct connection to Justice Sotomayor other than the proximity to her home.
Context and Background
This incident is part of a recent trend of attempted car thefts involving high-profile individuals in Washington, D.C. Last November, the Secret Service opened fire on three men attempting to break into a vehicle outside the home of President Biden’s granddaughter. Additionally, Congressman Henry Cuellar was carjacked near his home last October.
Crime Statistics
Despite these high-profile incidents, violent crime in Washington, D.C. has significantly decreased, with a 30% drop in violent crime this year and carjackings down nearly 50%. Nevertheless, over 200 carjackings have been reported in the nation’s capital so far this year.
