On a Saturday afternoon in November, 17-year-old Tristan Johnson left his grandmother's home in Washington D.C. to rent a scooter. He was walking near the D.C. Armory, where National Guard troops were stationed as part of a federal initiative aimed at reducing crime in the city. Tragically, shortly after leaving home, Tristan was shot and killed, with police suggesting that the suspects may have been attempting to steal his jacket.

In the aftermath of his death, Tristan's family sought to honor his memory, reflecting on his interests in football and social media, as well as his aspirations to start a truck driving business. However, their grief was compounded when President Trump made statements that appeared to dismiss the reality of crime in the capital, claiming, "We haven’t had a murder in six months."

This assertion contradicts the data available from the D.C. police, which reported 127 murders by December 26, including 28 occurring after the announcement of federal oversight of local law enforcement. While there has been a reported decrease in homicides—31 percent lower compared to the previous year—the ongoing violence remains a significant concern, with an average of seven murders per month in the latter part of the year. The situation underscores the complexities surrounding crime, policing, and the impact of militarized responses in urban areas.