In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a U.S. Secret Service agent discharged their weapon during a confrontation with individuals suspected of attempted carjacking near the Washington, D.C. home of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The Secret Service confirmed the incident, stating that the agent, assigned to protective detail in the northwest quadrant of the city, encountered a sedan with multiple occupants trying to open car doors along the street. As the sedan approached the agent, a confrontation ensued, leading the agent to fire their service weapon. Currently, there's no evidence suggesting anyone was hit.
Following the incident, the suspects fled the scene, prompting a lookout notice to local law enforcement. The Secret Service emphasized that no protectees were threatened or harmed during the event. The Metropolitan Police Department's Internal Affairs Division’s Force Investigations Team, responsible for investigating all officer-involved shootings in the District of Columbia, is handling the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent review of the facts and evidence.
It remains unknown whether Secretary Yellen was present at her residence during the incident, and no suspects have been publicly identified. This incident follows a similar event in July where a potential carjacker was shot after aiming a firearm at a U.S. Marshal protecting the home of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
In that July incident, two Deputy U.S. Marshals were on duty near Justice Sotomayor’s residence when an 18-year-old suspect exited a minivan and approached one of the unmarked Marshal’s vehicles. The suspect then pointed a handgun at the Deputy Marshal, seemingly attempting a carjacking. Both Marshals responded by firing their service weapons, injuring the suspect, who was later hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. A firearm and ammunition were recovered from the scene. The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed the Marshals involved were part of the Supreme Court justices' residential protection unit.
