Secret Service agents protecting President Joe Biden’s granddaughter opened fire after three people tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle in Washington.
WASHINGTON – Secret Service agents protect the president Joe Biden‘s granddaughter opened fire after three people tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle in the nation’s capital, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.
The agents, tasked with protecting Naomi Biden, were with her in the Georgetown neighborhood Sunday evening when they saw the three people break a window of the parked and unoccupied SUV, the official said. The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP Monday on condition of anonymity.
One of the agents opened fire, but no one was hit by the gunfire, the Secret Service said in a statement. The three people were seen fleeing in a red car, and the Secret Service said it had issued a regional bulletin to the Metropolitan Police to be on the lookout.
The Metropolitan Police Department said Monday it was investigating the shooting, as it does all police shootings in Washington. The agency said “the facts and evidence in the case will be independently reviewed by the United States Attorney’s Office.”
Washington has seen a significant increase in carjackings and car thefts this year. Police have reported more than 750 carjackings this year and more than 6,000 reports of stolen vehicles in the district. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was carjacked last month near the Capitol by three armed assailants, who stole his car but did not physically harm him.
Violent crime in Washington has also increased this year, up more than 40% from last year. In February, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was attacked in her building, suffering bruises while escaping serious injury.