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Update: Arrest Made in December Vehicle-Related Homicide

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 8, 2013


Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division – Homicide/Sex Section have made an arrest in the vehicle-related death that occurred in Gaithersburg in December.

On December 5, 2012, at approximately 1:17 a.m., police responded for the report of a pedestrian struck in the area of 211 W. Diamond Avenue.  Officers located the deceased victim, 34-year-old Billie Jay Genies of the 12600 block of Tobytown Drive in Potomac, and a short distance away, his brother, the surviving victim, now 35-year-old James R. Genies also of the 12600 block of Tobytown Drive.

James Genies reported to officers that he and his brother were given a ride by subjects in a black Honda Civic earlier in the morning.  They exited the vehicle near the Gaitherstowne Plaza at Route 355 and Odendhal Avenue.  As the two victims were walking west on W. Diamond Avenue, they were struck by a black Honda Civic. James Genies reported that he believed it was the same vehicle that he had been riding in a few minutes earlier.  A lookout was placed for the Honda and it was located unoccupied a short distance away.

Investigation revealed that as the Genies were exiting the vehicle, a dispute occurred between the Genies and the driver of the vehicle.  Police believe that following the dispute, the driver of the Honda drove around the Gaithersburg area looking for the Genies.  Upon finding them, the driver intentionally struck them and then fled the scene and abandoned the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Fernando Josue Valenzuela, age 20, of the unit block of Valley Park Court in Damascus.  Yesterday, detectives arrested Valenzuela without incident charging him with one count of first degree murder and one count of attempt first degree murder.

Valenzuela is currently being held without bond and is awaiting a 1:00 p.m. bond review this afternoon, March 8.

BKT
Fernando ValenzuelaFernando Valenzuela (Original Image)


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Release ID: 13-068
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases