Maryland man faces criminal charge of first-degree murder

A man who police believe shot and fatally wounded another man has recently been arrested. Maryland police suspect that the man shot the victim, and then he tried to flee the scene but was apprehended. He now faces the serious criminal charge of first-degree murder stemming from the incident.

According to the arrest report, the 20-year-old was in Montgomery County when he encountered the 25-year-old victim. Police suspect that the two men knew each other, but they have not yet been able to prove this conjecture. After the two men supposedly came into contact with one another, the man allegedly shot the victim.

The report does not say whether the victim had a firearm of his own and shot back, nor does the report indicate if police have formulated a potential motive for the attack. The shooting took place in an area near an elementary and middle school, and both had to go on lockdown while police searched the area. The man was arrested as he supposedly tried to flee from a car that police had stopped to question.

Police are still investigating other potential suspects, meaning that they may not have sufficient evidence to prove the man’s criminal charge in a court of law and beyond a reasonable doubt. If Maryland prosecutors do not have sufficient evidence against the man, his charge could be reduced or even ultimately dropped from the court record. Nevertheless, the man would benefit by gathering information pertaining to the various options available to him in his criminal defense as his case moves forward.

Source: CBS DC, Police Arrest Murder Suspect in Gaithersburg Shooting, No author, Nov. 23, 2013