Washington, D.C. – An incident involving a U.S. deputy marshal shooting a teenager during a carjacking attempt near the home of Justice Sonia Sotomayor has sparked attention and controversy. The shooting occurred in the early hours of Friday morning in the U Street corridor, according to local authorities.
The teenager, identified as Kentrell Flowers, allegedly approached a parked unmarked government vehicle with a handgun in hand, aiming to carjack the vehicle. Upon seeing this, the deputy marshal inside the vehicle fired shots, striking Flowers in the mouth. Another deputy marshal also arrived at the scene and discharged their service weapon.
Authorities reported that a passenger in the carjacked vehicle managed to flee the scene, leaving the vehicle behind. Flowers, 18, was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and faced charges in U.S. District Court related to the incident, including armed carjacking and possession of a firearm without a license. A firearm was recovered at the scene by the authorities.
The deputy marshals involved in the shooting were part of a protective detail assigned to safeguard the residences of U.S. Supreme Court justices. Flowers remained in the hospital under custody, but online court records did not list an attorney representing him. The shooting incident is currently under investigation by the internal affairs division of the D.C. police department.
In light of this incident, D.C. police highlighted a significant decrease in carjackings within the District, reporting a 46% decline compared to the previous year. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges faced by law enforcement officers in ensuring public safety and protecting the community.
As the investigation into the carjacking attempt and shooting continues, the community awaits further updates and developments regarding this troubling incident.