Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas who lives in Washington, D.C., had his car stolen at gunpoint on Monday night. Capitol Police told PEOPLE in a statement that the incident happened around 9:30 p.m. in the Navy Yard neighborhood.
“The victim has been identified as a member of Congress, so USCP investigators are working with MPD on this case,” the statement said. “There were no reports of injuries. Detectives are trying to find the people who did it.”
ABC News has heard from sources that three or four men took Cuellar’s car after putting a gun to his head and threatening him. His office told CNN that Cuellar’s phone, iPad, and sushi dinner were also stolen.
Fox News says that the officers then went to the area at New Jersey Avenue and K Street Southeast. Fox News said that an alert from the Metropolitan Police Department said that the carjacking was done by three black men who were dressed in black. The white Honda CHR that was stolen and then found was Cuellar’s. Jacob Hochberg, who is Cuellar’s chief of staff, told ABC News about the event in a statement on Monday.
“This evening, as Congressman Cuellar was parking his car, three people with guns came up to him and stole his car,” his statement to the outlet said. “Luckily, he wasn’t hurt, and he is now helping the police in his area. Thank you to the Metro Police Department and the Capitol Police for acting quickly and getting the Congressman’s car back.
Fox News said that House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar was seen at the crime scene while Cuellar was talking to the police.
Fox News says that Cuellar is the second Democrat in Congress to be attacked in Washington, D.C. this year.
In the elevator of her apartment building in February, Representative Angie Craig used hot coffee to defend herself. In a statement, her chief of staff, Nick Coe, said, “Craig fought off the attacker and got bruised, but her health is fine otherwise.”
“Rep. Craig called 911, and the person who attacked him ran away from the scene,” the statement said. “There is no proof that the incident had anything to do with politics. Rep. Craig is thankful to the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. for how quickly they responded, and he asks for privacy at this time. People asked the Metropolitan Police Department and Cuellar’s chief of staff for a comment, but they didn’t get back to us right away.
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