Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar Carjacked at Gunpoint Outside His DC Apartment

Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, was a victim of an armed carjacking in Washington DC, on Monday night, according to confirmation from Fox News Digital.

The incident occurred around 9:30 PM in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington DC, as reported by the US Capitol Police.

Both the US Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department responded to the scene at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and K Street Southeast. The entire block was closed off as police launched an investigation.

Authorities are currently searching for three suspects in connection with the carjacking. The suspects are described as Black men wearing all black clothing.

Cuellar's stolen vehicle, a white Honda CHR, has since been recovered.

Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar's chief of staff, Jacob Hochberg, issued a statement regarding the incident.

"As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle," the statement read. "Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement. Thank you to Metro PD and Capitol Police for their swift action and for recovering the Congressman's vehicle."

Several Members of Congress Are Also Victims of Violent Crimes in DC

Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar's carjacking is one of the series of violent crimes that have occurred in the District this year, affecting members of Congress and their staff.

In February, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) was assaulted in the elevator of her northeast DC apartment building, and a staffer for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was brutally attacked by a knife-wielding assailant in broad daylight in the same area, per the NY Post.

In June, a staffer for Rep. Brad Finstad (R-Minn.) was attacked at gunpoint near Nationals Park, just hours after the annual Congressional Baseball Game concluded.

Violent Crimes in Washington, DC

Washington, DC has experienced a significant increase in violent crimes this year, with a 38 percent rise compared to the same period in 2022.

Robberies have seen a 63 percent increase, while sex crimes have risen by 16 percent, per La Prensa Latina.

Additionally, there have been around 200 murders since January, marking a 28 percent increase and posing a threat to a two-decade-old record.

Despite a decline in violent murders in many US cities after the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington, DC has continued to see rising numbers.

In response, the city reinforced its nighttime curfew for minors, a measure that had been in place since 1995 but had not been enforced until recently.

Carjackings have also surged in the city, with 750 reported this year alone, 75 percent of which involved firearms.

This marks a 115 percent increase in carjackings compared to the same period last year, according to DC police crime statistics.

Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar is currently serving his 10th term in the US House of Representatives, representing Texas' 28th Congressional District, Yahoo! News noted.

His District includes several cities, such as Laredo, Rio Grande City, and San Antonio.

As of now, it remains unclear whether any suspects have been arrested in connection to the carjacking incident. The investigation is ongoing.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Texas congressman carjacked at gunpoint in Washington DC - From KHOU 11