On Sunday night, a Secret Service agent protecting President Joe Biden’s granddaughter Naomi Biden reportedly opened fire at thieves attempting to break into an unoccupied government vehicle.
According to a Secret Service statement released on Monday, the incident took place in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., at around midnight.
“Secret Service agents encountered possibly three individuals breaking a window on a parked and unoccupied government vehicle. During this encounter, a federal agent discharged a service weapon and it is believed no one was struck,” the statement read.
“The offenders immediately fled the scene in a red vehicle and a regional lookout was issued to supporting units,” the statement continued. “There was no threat to any protectees and the incident is being investigated by the DC Metropolitan Police Department and the Secret Service.”
Statement from US Secret Service:
"On Nov. 12 around 11:58 p.m. in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, Secret Service agents encountered possibly three individuals breaking a window on a parked and unoccupied government vehicle. During this encounter, a federal agent… https://t.co/BnkXJySOFW
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) November 13, 2023
While the statement did not name the individuals assigned to the Secret Service detail, several news reports have confirmed that the agent who opened fire on the would-be thieves was assigned to protect Naomi Biden, the daughter of Hunter Biden and eldest grandchild of the president. The 29-year-old spends a lot of time with her family in Washington, D.C., even holding her wedding at the White House last fall.
The attempted break-in was not uncommon, as crime has been surging in Washington, D.C., in 2023. According to police data, there have been over 6,000 reports of auto thefts this year, which is a nearly 100% increase compared to this time last year. Vehicle theft has become so common in the nation’s capital that local officials have begun giving out free tracking tags to D.C. residents to keep in their cars in case they are stolen.
In reporting on the Secret Service incident, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy noted: “There are so many cars that are getting broken into in Washington, D.C., it’s possible — just based on the volume — that they had no idea” whose vehicle it was.
“But if they did know, that’s even more extraordinary,” he added.
Peter Doocy:
"Somebody tried to steal a secret service car from the agents that were protecting the president's granddaughter, and they got away. There's so many vehicles getting broken into in DC it's possible they had no idea." pic.twitter.com/W1WjhAM8QK
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 13, 2023
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) commented on the news in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Crime has become so bad in the nation’s capital that three carjackers broke into a Secret Service SUV assigned to Joe Biden’s granddaughter last night. Lawlessness is rampant in Washington and requires better intervention,” Biggs wrote.
Crime has become so bad in the nation's capital that three carjackers broke into a Secret Service SUV assigned to Joe Biden's granddaughter last night.
Lawlessness is rampant in Washington and requires better intervention.https://t.co/gAmx6v8exP
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) November 13, 2023
