Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) was the victim of an armed carjacking outside his apartment building in Washington, D.C., Monday night.
“DC’s Metropolitan Police Department is investigating an armed carjacking that happened around 9:30 p.m. in DC’s Navy Yard neighborhood,” Capitol Police said in a statement obtained by Fox News Monday night. “The victim has been identified as a Member of Congress, so the USCP has investigators working with MPD on this case.”
Capitol Police explained that detectives were taking measures to “track down the suspect” and noted that no injuries were reported from the armed carjacking incident.
According to Fox News, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) was seen with Cuellar at the location of the carjacking incident as Capitol Police were investigating the scene.
Jacob Hochberg, Cuellar’s chief of staff, told The New York Post Monday night that the Democratic congressman’s vehicle was stolen by “three armed assailants” who came up to Cuellar as he was parking his car.
“Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement,” Hochberg said. “Thank you to Metro PD and Capitol Police for their swift action and for recovering the congressman’s vehicle.”
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According to a Tuesday statement obtained by Fox News, the U.S. Capitol Police has taken over the carjacking investigation from the Metropolitan Police Department.
“The Metropolitan Police Department responded to a report of an armed carjacking Monday evening at approximately 9:32 p.m. at the intersection of New Jersey and K Street, Southeast,” the statement said. “The victim was identified as a member of Congress, and the United States Capitol Police took over the investigation. MPD is assisting Capitol Police’s Criminal Investigative Division.”
Monday’s carjacking incident involving Cuellar marks the second time a Democrat in Congress has been the victim of a D.C. crime this year. The first incident occurred when Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) was attacked in her apartment building’s elevator in February.
At the time, Craig’s chief of staff, Nick Coe, released a statement, saying, “Rep. Craig defended herself from the attacker and suffered bruising, but is otherwise physically okay.”
Monday’s carjacking incident also follows a recent Capitol Hill forum that provided Congress and Capitol Hill staff with the opportunity to discuss public safety issues in D.C., according to Fox News.
