For years, the capital’s police force has faced a scarcity of cops due to Democratic-championed policies driving out officers in droves.

The irony of the situation here is that Justin was somebody that was hired by the government to keep the peace, and he was murdered by the police who saw a Black man in a vehicle,” said an attorney representing his mother.

President Trump visited local and federal officers in Washington, D.C., amid his crackdown in the capital city.

Mr. Trump has also asserted federal control over the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, drawing pushback from local politicians who argued the move was a threat to the city's autonomy. Last week, the Justice Department backed down from an attempt to name an emergency local police chief following a lawsuit from D.C. officials.