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Officers Locate Three Guns in Vehicle During Stop; One Occupant Charged with Shooting in Germantown

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 8, 2018

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – 5th District Investigative Section and officers from the 5th District Community Action Team (DCAT) have arrested and charged the following suspects with firearm and assault-related charges following a traffic stop in Germantown:

  • Jordan Becraft, age 20, of the 13300 block of Country Ridge Drive in Germantown.
  • Joseph E. Pinto, age 22, of the 900 block of Clopper Road in Gaithersburg.
  • Damarco Morrow, age 19, of the 1300 block of Missouri Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C.
  • Lynden S. Lawson, age 19, of the 13300 block of Waterside Circle in Germantown.
Pinto has also been charged with firearm and assault-related offenses for his involvement in a June 6 shooting during which shots were fired into an occupied home in Germantown.

On Wednesday, June 6 at approximately 9:45 a.m., 5th District officers responded to a home in the 13500 block of Demetrias Way for the report of several shots that had been fired into a residence.  Responding officers determined that the home was occupied but no residents had been injured by the shots.  Witnesses reported to police that they had observed a suspect shoot into the residence and then enter a white Toyota Scion driven by another suspect.  The vehicle fled from the area.  MCP officers were provided with a description of the suspects’ vehicle.

At approximately 11:15 p.m. that same evening, 5th DCAT officers observed a white Scion parked at a gas station located in the 19700 block of Germantown Road in Germantown.   Officers in unmarked police vehicles began following the car as it exited the gas station onto Germantown Road.  Near the intersection of Century Boulevard and Town Commons Drive, an officer driving directly behind the Scion reported to other officers that a rear seat passenger was pointing a green laser through the rear windshield directly at him.

DCAT officers in marked and unmarked police vehicles initiated a traffic stop on the Scion at Locbury Drive and Club Hill Drive in Germantown.  During the traffic stop:

  • Becraft was identified as the driver.
  • Lawson was identified as the front seat passenger.
  • Pinto and Morrow were identified as rear seat passengers.
  • Officers observed a loaded, .45 caliber handgun lying on the Scion’s rear passenger floorboard area near where Morrow had been sitting.
  • Officers further located a loaded, 9mm handgun that had been concealed in a tool bag that was in the rear center area of the vehicle.
  • Officers noted that the 9mm handgun had a green laser sight and determined that this firearm had been pointed at the officer who had been following the Scion.
  • Officers located an additional loaded .40 caliber handgun under the front passenger seat.
Becraft, Pinto, Morrow, and Lawson were arrested and transported to the 5th District station.

During a police interview with 5th District detectives, Pinto made statements as to his involvement in the earlier shooting that had occurred on Demetrias Way.  The investigation by detectives determined that Pinto was the suspect who had fired multiple shots into the Demetrias Way home.  This shooting remains under investigation.

Becraft, Pinto, Morrow, and Lawson were transported to the Central Processing Unit.  Morrow and Lawson were charged with firearm-related offenses as a result of the traffic stop in Germantown.  Pinto was charged with firearm and assault-related offenses related to the traffic stop in Germantown and related to the shooting that had occurred on Demetrias Way.  He was further charged with assault-related charges after it was determined that he was the suspect who had pointed the handgun with the laser sight through the rear windshield of the Scion and at the officer.

Morrow and Lawson were both released after posting a $5,000 bond.  Becraft was released after posting a $10,000 bond. Pinto is currently being held without bond.

RLG

Joseph PintoJoseph Pinto (Original Image)
Jordan BecraftJordan Becraft (Original Image)
Lynden S. LawsonLynden S. Lawson (Original Image)
Damarco MorrowDamarco Morrow (Original Image)


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Release ID: 18-233
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: assault, shooting