Secret Service agents protecting Biden's granddaughter open fire when 3 people try to break into SUV

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 7:58 AM EST, November 13, 2023


WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service agents protecting President Joe Biden’s granddaughter opened fire after three people tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle in the nation’s capital, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

The agents, assigned to protect Naomi Biden, were out with her in the Georgetown neighborhood late Sunday night when they saw the three people breaking a window of the parked and unoccupied SUV, the official said. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on Monday on the condition of anonymity.

One of the agents opened fire, but no one was struck by the gunfire, the Secret Service said in a statement. The three people were seen fleeing in a red car, and the Secret Service said it put out a regional bulletin to Metropolitan Police to be on the lookout for it.

Washington has seen a significant rise in the number of carjackings and car thefts this year. Police have reported more than 750 carjackings this year and more than 6,000 reports of stolen vehicles in the district. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was carjacked near the Capitol last month by three armed assailants, who stole his car but didn’t physically harm him.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/naomi-biden-secret-service-shooting-washington-georgetown-997126378e864c5acd0c9a1c6618c4e2

[marble falls]

1. Not your fault, but the title kinda implies she was in the SUV. And the SS guy firing of a round or several ...

... when no one was in jeopardy on a public street is troubling. That said, I am glad Ms Biden wasn't in the car.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. It's still possible that was the one car she had been in and would be going back to...

I know she wouldn't have a huge motorcade entourage but possibly just one or two vehicles.

[marble falls]

7. I bet it was one or two, but what I get from the article in she was on the sidewalk or in a building ...

... another example of skimpy facts.

And I get that SS wants to keep details that might aid a RW patriot (another word for 'terrorist') in planning an attack. The fact that SS seems ready to open fire should discourage "GOP political activists". Fortunately these were just dumb criminals. What crime genius uses a red car for a caper?

[BumRushDaShow]

11. I wouldn't be surprised that the red car

had been something car-jacked earlier (i.e., someone having left a car idling outside a convenience store, etc).

There are all kinds of rings around - many of them feeding chop shops. They just uncovered one here in Philly a couple days ago -

There was a good explanation about the rise - the pandemic and a sudden difficulty getting parts for the existing cars due obviously to the ubiquitous "supply chain issues".

[Deminpenn]

63. The now settled UAW strike would've also put

a crimp in parts since many of the parts supplier plants had to lay off workers and reduce production as a result of that.

[BumRushDaShow]

64. Yup

The disruption was massive and this sort of thing apparently started happening during the pandemic and by now, is fully established.

[EddieOnTheMesa]

2. Call Reacher

Where's Reacher when you need him? Being observed doing the crime and they get away. The Secret Service is not very impressive .

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Too many innocent bystanders getting hit by stray bullets

including those fired by LEO. I am actually surprised they fired at all so we'll have to wait to hear if any more details will be released.

[azureblue]

9. wait a second

they all fired? And missed? What kind of supposedly well trained SS agents are they? Back to the Firing range for all of them.

[getagrip_already]

20. Could be blanks...

Percussion rounds to drive them away. Other armed agents would back up in case of returned fire.

They weren't aiming to kill so why use live rounds at all.

[Calista241]

60. This is just not possible

There is zero chance a secret service agent on a protection detail has blanks loaded in their service weapon.

[getagrip_already]

65. I was thinking a second gun, similar to a taser...

Non lethal option. Kept seperate.

[prodigitalson]

69. I don't think they would react like a regular cop coming up on someone breaking into a car

it's probably a lot more 'eliminate threat to protected' mindset than 'apprehend the car thief'

[Rebl2]

34. One did

from what I read in above article.

[JudyM]

10. Here's the official statement at the moment: No protectees were in danger

Link to tweet

ETA: Secret Service’s stark statement of “no threat” suggests misuse of the firearm…

[Polybius]

58. Probably SS agents have different rules than police

They needed that SUV for the President's granddaughter, plus there may have been heavy weapons or classified information in it. If anyone tries to take it, they have a right to stop them by any means necessary.

[PJMcK]

5. To be fair

Ms. Biden wasn’t hurt. Their job was to protect her not apprehend car thieves.

Still, it’s remarkable how often LEOs miss their targets.

[thesquanderer]

8. re: "it's remarkable how often LEOs miss their targets."

We don't know that they were aiming to hit them. Especially since the vehicle was unoccupied and nobody was in imminent danger.

[Darwins_Retriever]

14. This isn't TV

Accuracy of handguns is dependent on distance. And gets worse with movement of the target and the person firing.

[thesquanderer]

31. If it was TV, accuracy also varies with whether the shooter is the good guy or the bad guy. ;-) n/t

[catsudon]

15. it is poor training

on proper firearm usage.

LEO shouldn't do 'warning' shots like in the movie. appliance of outright lethal force, as firing warning shots bring certain inherent risks.

either the situation does not call for firearms or
you shoot to hit (aim for the big mass, not the head, like in the movies)

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

18. I remember joking with my basic training mates

Not to worry about accuracy, but about not failing. After all, nobody needs to be able to hit a gnat's arse in real life, when aiming at center mass will get the job done just as well.

The shooting range instructor said that we were the most relaxed group ever to come for the shooting test. One of my squad member jerked a thumb over her shoulder at me, and said, 'She's had us laughing about this instead of freaking."

[catsudon]

32. very nice

wish i can go shoot more often, but i only collect pre ww2 rifles... the closest range that allows stuff like this is an hour away in the middle of nowhere.

[orangecrush]

17. SS Agents and police are not trained to shoot to maim

Nor fire warning shots.

If the handgun comes out, they are aiming for center mass. (Translate "shoot to kill) There are valid reasons for this. In other scenarios, non lethal force is used. My interpretation anyway

[quakerboy]

23. Warning shots are not a thing

At least not in any Leo training I've ever heard of.

That said.. this was apparently a secret service vehicle being broken into. I would assume they have various weaponry in that vehicle that none of us would want turned over to any sort of criminal associated with car thieves.

[oldsoftie]

30. I think that good point is being missed.

Wish they had hit them

[orangecrush]

54. THIS

It was just on the news that a year ago there was an attempted break in at her house.

After what happened to Paul Pelosi, if they feel this young woman is in danger - drop the fuckers.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

47. Likely had a machine gun or two in the vehicles

Either full auto rifles or submachine guns.

[Captain Zero]

26. We don't know that they didn't hit the fleeing car

Happens all the time. The fleeing car may now have bullet' holes in it. So, easier to identify,.maybe.

[sadasfyed]

35. They werent targets.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. The story hasn't even made WTOP ("traffic and weather, together on the eights") yet.

https://wtop.com/local/dc/

Channel 4 either:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/

Now, if it had been pandas breaking into an SUV ...

And good morning.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Well the D.C. pandas

are back in China so that would have rally been a breaking news story if the real ones were caught on the scene and China got these instead!





Top of the morning to you too!

[IronLionZion]

40. I was kind of hoping they would get asylum as political refugees

and be able to stay in the US.

[BumRushDaShow]

43. LOL

I remember back in 1970 when I was in London, I got to see the panda they had there (Chi Chi).

[IronLionZion]

24. Panda has escaped from the national zoo before

but he was Rusty, a small harmless red panda who wanted to have fun in Adams Morgan neighborhood like anyone else. Don't think he would break into a car.

[EX500rider]

39. When I used to live in Mt Pleasant I used to go in the back entrance to the zoo to see the Pandas all the time

[twodogsbarking]

13. Where was Biden's dog? That I would like to see.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

16. So relieved Ms Biden wasn't in the vehicle

Something really awful could have happened if she had been. That she's safe is the important thing.

I hope they catch these idiots.

[orangecrush]

19. We don't know the details

Did one of the thieves pull a gun out?

If so, he sure was in the wrong place at the wrong time messing with the wrong folks

I want the Bidens protected.

If that means using force, Godspeed Secret Service.

[PatrickforB]

21. This is kind of misleading. The text below sounds like the SS agents opened fire over a property crime,

but the title implies that some people tried to break into the SUV while the President's granddaughter was in it.

[Army Brat]

56. Why did they open fire?

Maybe they said halt first, don't know.

[IronLionZion]

22. President's kids/grandkids get 1 or 2 SS cars you can see

and who knows how many that you can't see. I only know because Tiffany Trump lived across the street from me while she was attending Georgetown Law School. We have both moved since then.

And yes, car jackings and car thefts have exploded in DC. I wouldn't want to park on the street there and wouldn't stop if someone intentionally rear-ended my car.

[DENVERPOPS]

49. If you think that car theft has exploded in DC

You should come to Colorado. Colorado, Denver, and in particular Denver International Airport's parking lots have become the CAR THEFT capitol of the world..........Someone told me that the State Legislature reduced "Grand Theft Auto" from a felony to a misdemeanor.

One person who reported her car stolen from a shopping center reported it to the police......Believe it or not, the officer stated to her that the theft of her car was the seventh reported THAT DAY from the same parking lot............WOW you would think after the first couple the police might have staked out that parking lot.............Maybe the Colorado/Denver cops realize it is fruitless to try to catch the thieves, due to the fact that the arrested car thieves will be back out on the street before they finish their police reports due to the fact it is only a misdemeanor.......

[IronLionZion]

50. It is a problem in many cities, also break ins, and catalytic converter thefts

while car-free folks annoyingly try to convince me it's conservative propaganda.

[Elessar Zappa]

53. It's not propaganda to say that car jackings have indeed increased but

but it hasn’t surpassed the numbers of the 80s and 90s in Washington DC. That doesn’t mean that the numbers now are at all acceptable.

[Chainfire]

25. I always shoot at people who "attack" my unoccupied car too. It is what real men do.

[Polybius]

37. The only bad thing is that they missed n/t

[LizBeth]

42. Right...

[republianmushroom]

27. Thank you SS.

But it does sound like there needs to be more time spent at the firing range. IMO

[LizBeth]

28. Reading that little bit, firstly... trying to steal an unoccupied cars possible death?

What is this go to pulling guns and shooting. President grand daughter was not in danger, was not even present. That is bullshit. And second,t he reaction to just shooting from a distance allowed the people to get away, no license? instead of actually being in position to arrest. Not impressed. Oh oh... and third, Shooting at three and not hitting any? Doesn't sound reassuring.

[sadasfyed]

36. Its not their job to arrest anyone, it is

Their job to deter, and they did. I would have shot them, but they are pros not willing to distract from their wards wellbeing

[LizBeth]

41. So it is ok to just simply murder people trying to steal a car? A random car.

Absolutely clueless it is granddaughter to Biden, so hey... murder is fine? For attempting to steal a car? Wow

[MyNameIsJonas]

52. Who was killed?

[Polybius]

59. How do you know secrets aren't in the car?

They needed that SUV for the President's granddaughter, plus there may have been heavy weapons or classified information in it. If anyone tries to take it, they have a right to stop them by any means necessary.

[LizBeth]

66. rollin eyes.... ya cause they leave guns lying around, or classified info with a granddaughter.

This just does not at all sound like a progressive. Murder for car theft. Shoot first. I was just surprised. But not here to change anyones mind.

[Polybius]

67. I'm not talking about nuclear secrets

But lesser classified docs, such as locations of where they will be taking the granddaughter. And the heavy guns would likely be in a separate compartment. Sorry, no respect for carjackers. They are beyond redemption.

[LizBeth]

68. Death to them all, no redemption! Gotcha.

[Polybius]

70. The less of them, the better

I shed no tears when catalytic converter thieves get crushed when their jacks slip either.

[oldsoftie]

29. Those guys need to get to the range. Secret Service are supposed to be top shots

[Lucky Luciano]

33. Two groups that need mass incarceration:

Car jackers and groups participating in mass invasion theft of retail - that’s organized crime/criminal conspiracy and should be prosecuted the way mafia members are.

[NBachers]

55. At the very least

[Polybius]

38. I was taught that they never miss

Another childhood tale down the toilet.

[IronLionZion]

44. Most likely warning shots if the car thieves were not a threat to Ms. Biden

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

48. The Secret Service doesn't fire warning shots

That's not in the training of any law enforcement agency in the country. They were shooting at the suspects and missed. Which is also not shocking. Very few LE, regardless of the agency, are expert marksmen with a handgun.

[LymphocyteLover]

45. the crime rate is really our of control in DC

it sucks... my daughter and her friends had a strange guy break into their apartment and harass them. Very traumatizing.

[JoseBalow]

46. Have the text messages disappeared yet?

[ffr]

51. Suspect's vehicle shouldn't be hard to spot. It probably has MAGA on the hood.

[Polybius]

72. Doubtful

It's a high crime area. They were likely carjackers who had no idea who's car it was.

[ffr]

77. "The three people were seen fleeing in a red car"

Get it? That was a joke.

[Polybius]

78. Lol now I do

[Army Brat]

57. The POTUS's granddaughter gets Secret Servie protection?

Wondering how many family members do.

[onenote]

79. Sitting president's "immediate family" is entitled to protection

Immediate family includes spouse, children (including adult children) and their children (including adult children)

For example, when Trump was president, protection extended to Melania, his five children (Ivanka, Tiffany, Eric, Donald, Barron), the spouses of his children, and their children.

[C Moon]

61. Oh boy did they pick the wrong vehicle to break into. :O

[XorXor]

62. It doesn't sound like anyone was in the car or in danger, right?

Why were shots fired? Maybe there was a good reason for it, but the question needs to be asked and answered.

[Polybius]

71. Probably secrets in the car, or heavy weaponry

Any any regards, I have no mercy for carjacking. Too bad they missed.

[Polybius]

75. What am I supposed to say, definitely?

I do not know what was in that SUV, so it's all speculation.

[XorXor]

74. If they were leaving secrets or heavy weaponry in the car that warrants firing weapons

Then that seems like a huge screw up too. I'm really curious to learn the details about why this happened, because without some compelling explanations, it seems like someone is probably going to have some career issues.

Another plausible explanation could be that the car thieves pointed a firearm at the agents, or at least appeared to do so as they tried to stop them. That would make the response more understandable to most.That wasn't stated in the article, though. So that's just speculation.

[Polybius]

76. Perhaps their primary objective was to get the granddaughter in the SUV

Carjacking it would would leave her in a position deemed unsafe. We don't know, and we may never.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

82. Heavier weapons are commonly left in LE vehicles

Either locked in a rack between the front seat or locked in the rear of the vehicle. Local cops will usually have a AR15 or shotgun and Federal LE will have much of the same with certain ones having full auto rifles or smg's. Secret Service likely has full auto weapons for counter assault and escape.

[Chainfire]

80. How do we know it was not an attempt to steal the radio?

Notice, it was an "attempt" to break into the car. One of thousands that happen in DC every year. The car was unoccupied. It does not sound like a case for using deadly force. It would have been different if someone's life had been in danger, but there is no suggestion of that. Firearms should not be used in cases where there is no risk to the health or safety of others. Property is not as valuable as people, period.

As far as the suggestion that it may have been justified because there might have been secrets in the car, my suggestion would be to not leave secrets in cars parked on the streets of D.C. The agent should be disciplined for either misuse of his service weapon or missing his target, one or the other...

Bullets launched in cities, and missing their intended targets, are addressed "To whom it may concern."

[Bucky]

81. No one should be robbed at gunpoint, but if you're going to rob anyone, Henry Cuellar isn't a bad choice

He's already got the money stuffed into envelopes in most of his pockets. Should be a swift grab-and-run and the money ends up going to a more worthy cause.