News Releases

Update: Robbery and Assault Immediately Preceded Hewitt Avenue Fatal Hit and Run; Suspects Arrested

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 22, 2018

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Major Crimes Division and from the Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) have been investigating the Friday, June 8 assault, robbery, and death of 40-year-old Gregory Jonathan Atwood, of Tynewick Drive in the Bel Pre area.

On Tuesday, June 19, detectives arrested Mohammed Salous, age 17, and charged him as an adult with assault-related offenses for his involvement in the robbery of Gregory Atwood.  On Wednesday, June 20, Kenneth Sahr Kpakima (also spelled Kapakima), age 21, was charged with assault and armed robbery offenses related to this crime.  They are both being held without bond.  A 15-year-old female suspect has been identified but has not been charged at this time.

Investigation by detectives revealed that on Friday, June 8, at approximately 3:50 a.m., 4th District officers responded to southbound Georgia Avenue at Hewitt Avenue for a person in the roadway.  Responding officers located Gregory Atwood, deceased in the southbound lanes of Georgia Avenue.  There was evidence of trauma to his body.

Preliminary investigation at the scene by CRU detectives indicated that Atwood was struck by two separate vehicles.  The drivers of those vehicles did not remain on the scene.  Evidence further indicated that one of the involved vehicles is possibly a 2011 Chrysler 200 or a 2011 Dodge Avenger (unknown color).  CRU investigators believe that the second vehicle involved in this collision is a light-colored Dodge Durango.

During the joint investigation by CRU and Major Crimes detectives, a review of surveillance video in the area of Georgia Avenue and Hewitt Avenue showed that prior to the collision being reported on June 8, Kpakima, Salous, and the 15-year-old female assaulted and robbed Atwood of his property in that area.  Detectives have further determined that Atwood suffered injuries as a result of that assault and that the suspects fled from the scene after they assaulted Atwood.

CRU detectives continue to investigate the hit and run portion of this investigation.   There is considerable vehicle and foot traffic in the area of Georgia Avenue at Hewitt Avenue, even at the time when this robbery and subsequent hit and run collision occurred.  CRU Investigators are urging anyone who may have witnessed this collision, who were in the area around the time of this collision, saw something suspicious, or may have any information about this collision, to please call the 4th District Police Station at 240-773-6620.  Callers may remain anonymous.

*Note: a photograph of Salous will not be released due to his age*

RLG

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Release ID: 18-267
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: assault, fatal-collision, robbery