A prominent Republican professional was critically injured in a carjacking spree that took place in Washington, D.C. on Monday night.
Mike Gill, who served as the chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) during the Donald Trump administration, was shot while picking up his wife on K Street in downtown D.C. His wife, who is an education lawyer, was only blocks away from the White House at the time of the incident.
According to reports, the perpetrator of the shooting is believed to have conducted at least two carjackings and one attempted carjacking before finally being killed by police in Maryland early Tuesday morning. The victim of one of the carjackings has tragically passed away, while Mike Gill remains in critical condition at the hospital.
Witnesses on the scene described the chaotic and terrifying scene that unfolded on Monday evening. Yolanda Douglas, who was nearby, recounted seeing a man in a dress shirt and sweater sprawled on the pavement with blood pooling around his head. She then saw the victim's wife rush to her husband's side, shocked and asking what had happened.
Police have identified the suspect, who was known by someone on K Street and was later found to have carjacked and fatally shot another person. The suspect also attempted to carjack a third vehicle on Third Street NE before finally taking another car and fleeing the scene. Police were able to track the suspect to Prince George's County, Maryland, where he then carjacked a Toyota, ordered a rideshare, and carjacked that vehicle as well.
In a bizarre turn of events, the suspect then shot at a Maryland State Police cruiser while driving on D.C. 295 around 2:30 am. The abandoned car he was using was later found by police, and when they were investigating it, the suspect approached them with a firearm and was ultimately killed by police.
Mike Gill, who is currently in critical condition in the hospital, is a well-known and respected figure in Republican circles. In 2016, he was appointed by the District of Columbia to be the Republican member of the city's Board of Elections and served three terms until July 2020. He also served as chief operating officer of the CFTC from January 2017 to July 2019 and was a key figure in the agency's review of regulations.
Gill's distinguished career also includes serving as the chief of staff to former CFTC Chairman Christopher Giancarlo and as the Chief Regulatory Reform Officer, where he focused on addressing gender and other inequities in pay. He has also worked for a Republican senator and congressman and held a top-secret security clearance. He currently serves as the vice president of the Housing Policy Council.
The alarming rise in carjackings in D.C. has been a cause for concern, with over 1,000 reported cases in 2020 alone. This latest incident is just one in a string of high-profile carjackings in the city, including an FBI agent, a Democrat congressman, and multiple congressional staffers. Just last week, three people attempted to carjack a Secret Service vehicle that was guarding the granddaughter of President Joe Biden.
As authorities continue to investigate this horrific crime spree, thoughts and prayers are pouring in for Mike Gill and his family. The senseless violence and danger have shaken the city and once again brought attention to the need for stricter laws and enforcement to combat the rising crime rates. The Gill family has requested privacy at this time, and our hearts are with them as they endure this difficult time.