Former Trump administration official, UD graduate dies after being shot in carjacking
Pictured is Michael Gill. Photo courtesy of Housing Policy Council.
Lucy Waskiewicz | News Editor
A former Trump administration official and University of Dayton graduate Michael Gill ’89 has died after being shot in an attempted carjacking in Washington, D.C. He was 56.
Gill was shot during a carjacking spree in Washington on Monday, Jan. 29 that left another victim dead. He was reportedly in critical condition throughout the week.
On Feb. 3, his wife Kristina Gill shared in a statement to Fox 5 that Gill had died.
“It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband, Mike Gill,” she said. “His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled. In this time of grief, we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out to offer condolences and assistance.”
The Gill’s had three children together.
At the time of his death, Gill was senior vice president for Capital Markets at the Housing Policy Council. He previously was chief of staff of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission during the Trump administration.
“Mike’s death is also a huge loss for the Housing Policy Council and for the Washington, DC community, which has lost an outstanding citizen, neighbor, co-worker, and friend,” President of the Housing Policy Council Ed DeMarco said in a statement.
A native of St. Louis, MO, Gill graduated from UD in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
According to a press release from Washington police, Gill was attacked while sitting in his car in northwest Washington Monday evening. The suspected gunman, identified as 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, entered the car at around 5:45 p.m. and shot Gill, who was transported to a local hospital.
The statement said Cunningham fled from Gill’s car and unsuccessfully attempted to steal another vehicle.
He then approached a man and woman by their car and demanded their keys. He shot the man, later identified as 35-year-old Alberto Vasquez, Jr., and fled the scene in the couple’s vehicle. Vasquez Jr. was taken to a local hospital where he died.
Cunningham conducted two more carjackings and shot at a police cruiser before he was fatally shot on Tuesday, Jan. 30 by two Maryland police officers after allegedly approaching them with a gun.
Carjacking incidents in Washington rose for the sixth year in a row in 2023 to 959 reported incidents—nearly double the 485 reports in 2022, according to Washington police.
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