In the midst of a surge in violent crime in Washington, D.C., a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent was carjacked on Wednesday afternoon by two armed suspects.
According to reports, the carjacking occurred on 12th Street near Lincoln Park, approximately 30 minutes before the vehicle involved was located a mile away from the scene. The FBI’s Washington field office and the Metropolitan Police Department’s carjacking task force are currently investigating the incident, according to a statement released by the FBI.
This recent carjacking adds to the alarming statistics surrounding carjackings in Washington, which have seen a 111 percent increase in the first ten months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. It is worth noting that officials have refused to prosecute 67 percent of the arrestees in 2022, with the majority of the suspects being under the age of 18.
In fact, just last month a 13-year-old in D.C. who was fatally shot during an attempted carjacking of a federal officer had nine previous carjacking and robbery charges over a period of five weeks. This tragic incident is just one example of the soaring crime rates in D.C. and the baffling systematic issues that have plagued the city's justice system.
U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves has recently come under fire for his refusal to prosecute a large number of cases, including 26 percent of juvenile crimes, according to data obtained by the Washington Post. However, Graves suggested in August that his office would begin to crack down on certain crimes involving juveniles.
President Joe Biden nominated Graves to his position in 2021, and the Senate confirmed him. This recent incident only highlights the ongoing struggle to combat crime in the nation's capital, with officials calling for reform and action to address the root causes of the issue.
The carjacking took place just a mile away from where the vehicle was located near 15th Street, leaving residents in the area feeling unsafe and on edge. The FBI and local authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.
With violent crime on the rise in D.C. and carjackings becoming increasingly prevalent, it is crucial that swift and effective action is taken to address the issue. The FBI and local police continue to work tirelessly to keep the community safe, but it is clear that more needs to be done to combat the underlying issues that contribute to these alarming numbers.