News Releases

Detectives Investigate Death of Gaithersburg Teenager

For Immediate Release: Monday, February 12, 2018

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Major Crimes Division are investigating the death of 17-year-old Tyler Steven Terry of Gaithersburg.

On Monday, January 29, at approximately 7:48 a.m., Montgomery County Fire & Rescue personnel responded to a community basketball court located in the area of Hillstone Road and Timber Rock Road in Gaithersburg for the report of a teenage male who appeared to be in cardiac arrest. Gaithersburg Police officers and Montgomery County Police officers also responded to the location. The patient, identified as Terry, was transported to the hospital. Montgomery County Police Department- Major Crimes Detectives began to investigate the circumstances surrounding this medical event as Terry was considered to be in grave condition.

Major Crimes Detectives have determined that on the morning of January 29, two groups of individuals met at the basketball court with the intention of fighting. Terry, from one group, and an adult male from the other group, fought first. The fight between Terry and the other male involved minimal physical contact. After approximately two to three minutes of fighting, Terry stopped fighting and walked away from his opponent, appearing as if he were tired. Two additional fights between individuals from the opposing groups occurred during the next five to ten minutes. While the third fight was occurring, Terry collapsed on the ground and became unconscious. Witnesses called 9-1-1. Several witnesses captured the three fights and Terry’s collapse on cell phone video.

Terry was transported to a local hospital and then to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Tests were conducted to determine if Terry sustained any injury during the fight; no injury was detected. Medical personnel determined that Terry had suffered a cardiac event and confirmed the presence of a pre-existing medical condition. On February 11, Terry was declared deceased at the hospital. It was determined that no autopsy would be conducted as the pre-existing condition had been identified.

Major Crimes investigators will review this case with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office to determine if any criminal charges are warranted in this case.

No additional information will be provided by the Department about this event at this time.

RLI

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Release ID: 18-057
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: death-investigation, uncategorized