In a dramatic late-night incident, Secret Service agents, charged with protecting President Joe Biden's granddaughter, Naomi Biden, were compelled to open fire in Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood. The agents responded to three individuals attempting to break into a government vehicle, escalating concerns over the capital's rising vehicle thefts and carjackings.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, detailed the encounter: "On Nov. 12 around 11:58 p.m. in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., Secret Service agents encountered possibly three individuals breaking a window on a parked and unoccupied government vehicle." He added, "During this encounter, a federal agent discharged a service weapon, and it is believed no one was struck. The offenders immediately fled the scene in a red vehicle, and a regional lookout was issued to supporting units."
This security breach occurred while agents were out with 29-year-old Naomi Biden, who was notably married at the White House last fall. The suspects reportedly fled in a red car, prompting the Secret Service to issue an alert to the Metropolitan Police Department.
The District of Columbia has been grappling with a significant uptick in car-related crimes, reporting over 750 carjackings and more than 6,000 stolen vehicles in the past year. This growing trend has even impacted lawmakers, with U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) experiencing a carjacking at gunpoint near the Capitol last month.
The increase in violent crime in Washington, D.C., has raised alarms, marking a 40% surge compared with the previous year. In a separate incident earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was assaulted in her apartment building, though she escaped serious injury.
This latest incident involving the President's granddaughter has brought heightened attention to the security challenges facing Secret Service agents in the nation's capital. With the investigation ongoing, the incident adds to the narrative of a city battling a rise in violent and property crimes.
