News Releases

Update: Arrests Made in Briggs Chaney Area Homicide

For Immediate Release: Saturday, October 24, 2015

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department- Major Crimes Division have arrested two suspects for the October 8 homicide of 22-year-old Garrett Alexander McClees that occurred in the Edgewood Neighborhood Park (located 13900 Robey Road).  Earl Junius Bennette, age 24, of an unconfirmed address, and Shante Gladden, age 22, of an unconfirmed address, were arrested yesterday afternoon and have been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery.

On October 8 at approximately 4:43 p.m., the Emergency Communications Center (9-1-1) received multiple calls for a shooting and the sound of shots fired in the Edgewood Neighborhood Park located at 13900 Robey Road in the Briggs Chaney area. Montgomery County police officers and Maryland-National Capital Park (Montgomery County Division) police officers and Fire-Rescue personnel responded to the park and located McClees, suffering from a gunshot wound; he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.  McClees' backpack had been stolen.  The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore determined the manner of death to be homicide and the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the torso.

During the investigation, detectives received multiple tips that assisted in the identification of the two suspects (Gladden and Bennette).  Investigation has revealed that the suspects and victim knew each other and that Bennette's cell phone had been in contact with McClees' cell phone on the day of, prior to, the homicide.  Detectives believe that this homicide may be drug-related due to information received during the investigation and drug evidence located at the homicide location.

On October 22, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Gladden and Bennette. On October 23, both suspects were arrested.  Gladden was arrested in Washington, D.C., with the assistance of the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force; he remains in D.C. awaiting extradition to Montgomery County.  Bennette was arrested by Montgomery County police officers in Silver Spring and was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.

Also on October 23, as part of this investigation, Montgomery County Police officers, with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, executed search warrants in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

The Montgomery County Police Department would like to thank the Maryland-National Capital Park Police - Montgomery County Division for their assistance in this investigation.

RLI

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Release ID: 15-347
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: homicide