WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, was carjacked Monday night by three armed attackers, his office said.

What You Need To Know

  • Congressman Henry Cuellar’s office says he’s been carjacked by three armed attackers

  • Cuellar’s chief of staff says the Texas Democrat was parking his car Monday evening when the assailants approached him and stole the car. The chief of staff says Cuellar was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement, who recovered the car

  • The Washington Post reports the robbery happened in Washington’s Navy Yard area about a mile from the U.S. Capitol

  •  Monday’s carjacking is the second assault on a member of Congress in the District of Columbia this year. In February, Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig was assaulted in her apartment building. Craig suffered bruises while escaping serious injury

Cuellar’s chief of staff Jacob Hochberg released a statement saying: “As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle. Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement.”

Hochberg said police recovered Cuellar's vehicle, a white Toyota crossover. They recovered his stolen cellphone as well. 

The Washington Post reported that the robbery happened at 9:30 p.m. at New Jersey Avenue and K Street SE in Washington’s Navy Yard area, about a mile from the U.S. Capitol.

The United States Capitol Police on Tuesday reported it is working with the DC Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office to track the three assailants down. 

“We have a number of leads,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said. “Our investigators are focused, determined and working around the clock.”

A witness told investigators that the three men responsible for the carjacking were wearing knit caps and ski masks. They may be as young as 16 years old. 

Cuellar, according to police, said in a statement that the three swarmed his vehicle, pointed guns in his face and demanded the car keys. 

Monday's incident was the second assault on a member of Congress in the District of Columbia this year. In February, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was assaulted in her Washington apartment building, suffering bruises while escaping serious injury. Her chief of staff said the attack did not appear to be politically motivated.

In June, Kendrid Khalil Hamlin, 26, pleaded guilty in that case to charges of assaulting a member of Congress and assaulting law enforcement officers. Hamlin was also accused of assaulting two officers as they attempted to arrest him on the same day of Craig’s attack.