Montgomery Co. police shoot suspect dead after ‘completely random’ stabbing spree
Four people have been hospitalized with injuries following a series of stabbings that "happened in quick succession" in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Saturday morning, ending in the suspect's fatal shooting by an officer.
Police are investigating the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Matt Kaufax)
Police are investigating the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Matt Kaufax)
Montgomery County, Maryland, officials and community members are searching for answers after a suspect stabbed four random people on Saturday morning. That suspect was shot to death by police shortly after the stabbings happened.
Police said the first victim was a woman stabbed at the Unique Thrift Store in the 12200 block of Veirs Mill Road at around 10:30 a.m. Two additional women were stabbed in the neck along the 4100 block of Colie Drive — less than a half mile away from the thrift store.
The three female victims were hospitalized for their injuries, with one listed in critical condition. A fourth male victim was stabbed, too, but police said all four victims are expected to survive.
Officers said the suspect appeared to be heading to a nearby wooded area after the stabbings. Police were attempting to surround that wooded area when the suspect came to the sidewalk and “confronted a police cruiser,” according to Montgomery County Police Assistant Chief Darren Francke.
“Another officer arrived on scene, saw the suspect, saw that he was armed with a 12-inch butcher knife, gave commands to the subject. Unfortunately, an officer-involved shooting occurred,” Francke said during a press conference Saturday afternoon.
Montgomery County Police said the unidentified suspect was shot in the 4300 block of Havard Street just before 10:50 a.m. after not complying with commands to drop the knife. Police said the suspect “lunged toward an officer” in a news release, resulting in the officer shooting the man.
Francke said, after officers called EMS and CPR was performed, the suspect died at the scene. Police believe multiple shots were fired by the officer.
“Montgomery County is a very safe community. On a Saturday afternoon where folks are having a yard sale and just shopping at a very popular thrift store, we don’t expect this. We certainly don’t accept it,” he said.
The attorney general’s office is investigating the shooting, per state law. Body camera footage and the names of the officer and suspect are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
County Executive Marc Elrich praised first responders for rapid response to the stabbings, which could have “very likely prevented further assaults and may well have saved lives.” He also said an investigation into the police shooting would help to “uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in every case including this one.”
“While we do not know the motive for this attack today, I continue to believe we need to do more to address the markedly increasing mental health crises in our community. We need to find ways to avert these kinds of tragedies from occurring and not put our officers into the difficult and tragic position of determining when it is necessary to take a life,” Elrich said in a statement.
In pursuit of that goal, Elrich committed to working with the county’s department of health and human services, police department, community partners and council “to identify and expand crisis support services in Montgomery County.”
“I wish for a full and rapid recovery for those who were injured. Everyone should be able to enjoy a weekend afternoon in Montgomery County without concern for such violence,” he said.
Hours after the stabbing, residents and community members near the area told WTOP they are feeling on edge.
“My feelings are it’s not safe here. Anywhere. It could be random,” said one man.
Both the officer involved in the shooting and a witness officer have been placed on administrative leave, according to Montgomery County Police Assistant Chief Darren Francke.
There is no indication the victims were known to the suspect, Francke said, describing the assaults as “completely random.”
“So far, we have not found a connection,” Francke said, adding that the investigation is “very preliminary right now.”
Below is a map of the approximate area where the incidents occurred:
WTOP’s Kate Corliss, Matt Kaufax and Dana Sukontarak contributed to this report.
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Source: WTOP
