Secret Service kills burglar at Peruvian ambassador’s DC home

Secret Service agents shot and killed a burglar at the home of the Peruvian ambassador to the US in Washington on Wednesday morning, the agency confirmed to The Post. 

A spokesperson said that the unidentified intruder was shot “following a confrontation” at the home in northwest DC, near the Maryland line.

Officials said the ambassador, Hugo de Zela Martínez, was home with his wife at the time of the incident.

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee told reporters that the Secret Service was called to the residence just after 8 a.m. for a “burglary in progress.”

The suspect had “smashed out several windows” in the back of the house and was “holding a metal stake” when he was confronted, Contee said.

The agents initially deployed Tasers, then fired their service weapons when the stun guns had no effect, according to the chief.

Contee added that he had no information about the suspect other than that he appeared to be in his late 20s or 30s. It was unclear whether the suspect knew the house was the residence of a foreign diplomat.

In a brief statement on Twitter, the Peruvian Embassy confirmed that the burglar “entered the Official Residence without authorization, causing material damage to the property.”

“The Ambassador, his family, the Residential staff, and the secret service [sic] agents are safe, and the fact is being investigated by the competent authorities,” the embassy added.

In addition to protecting presidents, vice presidents, former presidents and their families, the Secret Service is responsible for securing foreign embassies and diplomatic residences.