A teenage suspect was shot by US Marshals on Friday after he allegedly tried to hijack Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s federal bodyguards from outside her home, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed it is investigating a shooting that occurred in northwest Washington, D.C., where two police officers were on “protective duty” in the early morning of July 5.
A deputy US marshal was sitting in his car outside the Supreme Court’s apartment at 1:15 a.m. when 18-year-old Kentrell Flowers approached him, pointed a gun at him and tried to steal his vehicle, according to a police report obtained by DailyMail.com.
Local police issued a press release about the incident last week, but made no mention of any connection to Sotomayor.
“The suspect exited a vehicle, walked up to one of the officers and pointed a firearm at him in an attempt to carjack him,” a Press release from the Washington DC Police Department said.
‘The Marshal drew his service weapon and fired multiple shots at the suspect. A second Marshal from another vehicle also responded and fired his service weapon.
U.S. deputy marshals were on duty with a protective detail near the home of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in Washington, D.C., on Friday when the incident occurred, police said.
A police report obtained by DailyMail.com shows the incident took place at the Beauregard Condominiums in North West DC, where Sotomayor owns an apartment
“The suspect was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. No police officers were injured.”
Flowers, 18, was arrested and charged with armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.
A police report obtained by DailyMail.com shows the incident occurred at the Beauregard Condominiums in North West DC, where Sotomayor owns an apartment. The US Marshals Service (USMS) confirmed to DailyMail.com that the officers involved were part of its security team.
The report states that police seized the black and silver Smith & Wesson 40VE handgun that Flowers allegedly used in the attempted carjacking.
The Metro PD report referred to the first marshal as “Deputy U.S. Marshal Black,” but did not name the second officer.
“The deputy US Marshals involved in the shooting were part of the unit protecting the residences of the US Supreme Court justices,” a USMS spokeswoman told DailyMail.com.
‘Normally, the US Marshals do not discuss specific details about protective measures.
‘USMS does not release the names of personnel involved in the shootings until all investigations are complete.’
A statement of facts filed in the Washington DC District Court According to Deputy U.S. Marshal Tyler Wells, at 1:17 a.m., Flowers pulled up in a silver van, got out and pointed his gun through the driver’s side window of the federal agent’s unmarked car parked on 11th Street.
“The complainant pulled out his department-issued firearm and shot defendant Flowers approximately four times through the window, striking Flowers in the mouth,” the July 5 filing states.
“The complainant rendered first aid to Flowers as the silver van sped away northbound on 11th Street Northwest.”
The report states that police seized Flowers’ black and silver Smith & Wesson 40VE handgun, which was allegedly used in the attempted carjacking.
Flowers was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and was arrested and charged with armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.
Local police issued a press release about the incident last week, but made no mention of the link to Sotomayor
Marshals found a matching silver 2017 Toyota Sienna minivan in a hijacked vehicle database, but have not yet recovered the car or its driver.
The shooting is being investigated by the police Internal Affairs Division Force Investigations Team. The department said the case “will be independently reviewed by the United States Attorney’s Office.”
This is not the first high-profile attempted car theft in Washington DC in recent months.
On Nov. 12, 2023, Secret Service agents stationed outside the home of President Joe Biden’s granddaughter, Naomi, opened fire on two teenagers who were fleeing after allegedly stealing more than $1,000 worth of items from a black Ford Expedition “being used by members of the first family,” according to court documents.
Robert Kemp, 19, was arrested on February 7. A 14-year-old male accomplice was arrested later that month in another alleged armed carjacking.
A Secret Service agent’s affidavit revealed that the boy was wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle bracelet during the theft from Naomi’s car.
Last October, Congressman Henry Cuellar was held at gunpoint near his Washington, DC home by three armed robbers dressed in knit caps and ski masks.
Texas Republican Cuellar was unharmed. Police eventually recovered the car.
His phone and computer were also found in his white Toyota crossover, as well as his dinner, which he had purchased at Whole Foods.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts stands with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh in the House of Representatives ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s third State of the Union address in March
“What really made me angry was that they took my sushi,” the congressman told CNN at the time.
DC police reported more than 900 carjackings and more than 6,000 stolen vehicles in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year.
Brianne Nadeau, the city councilwoman for the district where Sotomayor’s apartment is located, is facing an impeachment motion over her support for the Defund the Police movement.
A group campaigning for her ouster said Nadeau voted for budgets that “defunded police by $15 million” and “passed legislation to reduce penalties for violent crimes, illegal gun violence and carjackings.”
On their websiteBrianne Nadeau’s Repeal Committee points to crime statistics from Washington DC showing a 100% increase in murders, a 56% increase in assaults with dangerous weapons, and a 48% increase in motor vehicle thefts between 2022 and 2023.
Sotomayor bought her two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,170-square-foot Washington, D.C., condo in 2012 for $660,000. Real estate website Redfin now estimates its value at $861,480.
The New York Times described the neighborhood as “sleazy” in a 2013 story about her purchase, but Sotomayor said it reminded her of her roots in New York’s East Village.
“It has a touch of the East Village,” she told the newspaper. “I chose it because it’s a mixed community. I walk out and see all kinds of people, and that’s the area I grew up in and the area I love.”