A Secret Service member was robbed at gunpoint during President Joe Biden’s visit to California on Saturday, police officials reported.
Police from Tustin, located about 34 miles southeast of Los Angeles, released a statement detailing the incident, which occurred in a local residential community. Officers responded to a possible robbery and found a Secret Service agent who had been robbed at gunpoint. The police noted that an “officer (agent) involved shooting occurred” during the altercation.
Police stated that it was unclear if any suspects were injured in the incident, but they did locate some of the victim’s belongings in the area.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that the victim of the armed robbery was an employee returning from a work assignment. Guglielmi explained that the employee had “discharged their service weapon during the incident” and added that it was “unknown if the assailants were struck.”
“We are thankful that the employee did not sustain any injuries,” Guglielmi added.
The incident took place while President Biden was attending a fundraiser in Los Angeles on Saturday evening, which included former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, along with numerous Hollywood celebrities.
It is unclear if the reason for the secret service being mugged was related to the President’s visit. However, critics have used this incident as an opportunity to further highest the levels of violent crime in the nation’s largest cities, particularly cities ran by left-wing politicans.
Last March, Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choic reported that violent crime was up nearly 3% and robberies were up 9.5% compared to the same time last year. Choi said that robberies continue to “”plague us as a crime problem,” according to Fox LA.
