❓WHAT HAPPENED: Over half of those arrested for carjackings in Washington, D.C., since August 2023 were minors, with some as young as 12 years old.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Juvenile offenders, D.C. police, Attorney General Brian Schwalb (D), Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), and President Donald J. Trump.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, DC; data from August 2023 to present, with a specific incident involving a government staffer on Sunday morning.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14.” – President Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: The rise in juvenile crime has sparked debate over curfews, penalties, and federal intervention in D.C. crime policies.
Since August 2023, 333 suspects have been arrested for carjackings in Washington, D.C., with 56 percent of those arrests involving individuals under the age of 18. According to police data, many of the juveniles arrested were between 15 and 16 years old, with some as young as 12. Notably, the nation’s capital has seen a concerning number of high–profile incidents involving carjackings in recent years, including the murder of former Trump administration staffer Mike Gill.
The rise in juvenile crime has coincided with a broader increase in vehicle-related offenses. Over the past two years, D.C. has reported 1,046 carjackings, with 72 percent involving a firearm. In contrast, motor vehicle thefts without the owner present have remained steady, with 2,847 cases reported since August 2024 compared to 2,844 in the same period last year.
The issue gained national attention after 19-year-old Edward Coristine, a former staffer with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was attacked by a group of 10 juveniles while attempting to prevent a carjacking. Two 15-year-olds have been arrested in connection with the assault. President Donald J. Trump responded by calling for tougher penalties on juvenile offenders and warning of a potential federal takeover of D.C. if local leaders fail to address the crime surge.
“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control. Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-year-olds, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding: “The law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14… If the D.C. leaders do not clean up their capital city, I will do whatever is necessary to protect our nation’s capital, even if it means taking federal control of the City.”
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has pushed back on such proposals, emphasizing rehabilitation for minors. In response to the Coristine case, Schwalb called the attack “horrific and disturbing” and stated, “When MPD brings us cases with sufficient evidence of juveniles who have broken the law and hurt people, we will prosecute them and ensure they face consequences for their actions.” His office has reported a 90 percent prosecution rate for homicide and attempted homicide cases in 2024, as well as high rates for carjacking and violent assault cases. Meanwhile, Mayor Muriel Bowser has implemented curfews for minors, including an 11 PM citywide curfew and earlier curfews in certain neighborhoods.
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