President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his administration will seek the death penalty for murders that take place in Washington, D.C., after a man was fatally shot in the district early Tuesday morning.
Metropolitan Police officers responded to reports of a shooting in Southwest Washington shortly after midnight, according to the police department. The shooting broke the city’s 12-day streak of no homicides since Trump ordered federal agencies to assist local law enforcement to crack down on crime.
The White House has touted no homicides reported in the capital since Aug. 14, citing preliminary police data. Trump took over the city police department on Aug. 11 and only two deaths were reported between Aug. 11 and Aug. 13.
“If somebody kills somebody in the capital, Washington, D.C., we’re going to be seeking the death penalty,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting. “That’s a very strong preventative. I don’t know if we’re ready for it in this country, but we have no choice.”
Trump said that other states can make their own decisions about whether to seek the death penalty for murders, but capital punishment is still legal in 27 states, according to Axios.
U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said last month that the Justice Department is considering seeking the death penalty for the man who allegedly killed two Israeli staffers outside a Jewish building in D.C. earlier this year.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.
