A Secret Service agent protecting Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor outside her home foiled an attempted carjacking of his vehicle on Saturday, shooting and wounding the attacker before calling for help.

U.S. marshalls were sitting in an unmarked car near Sotomayor's residence when a man later identified as Kentrell Flowers got out of a silver van and pointed a gun at the vehicle.

One of the marshalls quickly fired his weapon at Flowers, wounding him in the mouth. He then got Flowers' gun and secured the scene, then administered first aid to Flowers while he waited for medical help to come.

The silver van turned out to be stolen, and the driver fled the scene and has not been found.

Security problems growing

Sotomayor is not believed to have been the target of the attack, but it showcases the high-crime nature of D.C. and the problems involved in keeping important officials secure.

Threats toward Supreme Court Justices have ramped up since they overturned Roe V. Wade in 2022.

Protesters have targeted their personal residences as well as the courthouse.

An assassination attempt against Justice Brett Kavanaugh was foiled by police in June 2022, and a man who had talked about killing him and other justices was arrested for attempted murder in the case.

More attacks

Earlier this year, the Secret Service also arrested two people who tried to break into a car that was protecting President Joe Biden's granddaughter Naomi.

In response to these concerns, Congress passed legislation giving more money for security to the court.

Members of Congress have not been immune from attacks in D.C., either.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was held up at gunpoint and carjacked in the Navy Yard neighborhood last fall, and in February 2023 Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) was assaulted in the lobby of her apartment building.

Crime in the D.C. area has also increased in the last three to four years, which has probably contributed to some of the attacks like the one on Sotomayor's detail.

The result is the same whether it's a direct attack or not, though, at least in terms of interfering with keeping our elected and appointed officials and their families secure.