On July 5, two deputy U.S. Marshals shot and apprehended an 18-year-old suspect, Kentrell Flowers, who attempted to carjack them while they were stationed outside Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s home in Washington, D.C. Around 1:15 a.m., Flowers approached the marshals’ vehicle and brandished a gun. In response, both marshals opened fire, injuring Flowers, who was subsequently treated for non-life-threatening injuries and arrested.

Justice Sotomayor, appointed by President Obama, was not at home during the incident. The marshals, part of a unit dedicated to protecting Supreme Court justices, recovered a semi-automatic handgun from the scene. Flowers faces charges including armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a large-capacity magazine.

The incident is under investigation by Metropolitan Police detectives and the U.S. Marshals Service, both of which have declined to provide further details. This carjacking attempt is part of a disturbing trend of high-profile carjackings in the nation’s capital. Notably, Secret Service agents fired upon suspects attempting to break into an unmarked vehicle assigned to President Biden’s granddaughter, Naomi, in November 2022. Additionally, former Trump administration official Mike Gill was fatally wounded in a carjacking on K Street in January.

This recent event underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by federal agents and high-profile individuals in Washington, D.C.