Washington DC: Carjacker shot outside US supreme court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's home

A Deputy US Marshal shot a would-be carjacker while guarding supreme court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s home in Washington, DC, according to authorities. The suspect approached the deputy’s vehicle and tapped the window with a gun, prompting the deputy to fire multiple shots, striking the suspect in the mouth. A second deputy also fired but missed.

The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Kentrell Flowers, is hospitalized and faces charges of carjacking and firearm offenses. Officials believe Justice Sotomayor’s home was not intentionally targeted.

Court documents reveal Flowers exited a stolen silver minivan and approached the officers’ car. The deputies were wearing US Marshals branded clothing during the incident.

Flowers is charged with armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license, and possessing a large-capacity magazine, which is illegal in Washington, DC. An investigation is ongoing, but there is no evidence suggesting the suspect knew he was near Justice Sotomayor’s home.

The minivan driver fled, and the vehicle was later found abandoned. Despite ongoing concerns about vehicle thefts and carjackings in Washington, DC, such incidents have decreased by 43% this year, according to Metro police.

In a related 2023 incident, a US Secret Service agent shot at two teenagers attempting to break into a car protecting Naomi Biden, President Joe Biden’s granddaughter. Additionally, Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, was carjacked last year in the Navy Yard area of Washington, DC. Naomi Biden was not present during the attempted robbery in Georgetown on the night of November 12.