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Two Teens Charged with Handgun Possession on Montgomery College – Germantown Campus

For Immediate Release: Saturday, October 6, 2018


Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – 5th District Investigative Section have charged Guga Vashakidze, age 18, of the 11700 block of Emerald Green Drive in Clarksburg, with possession of a firearm on school property and have charged Menlik N. Sirleaf, age 17, of the 18700 block of Walkers Choice Road in Gaithersburg,  as an adult with attempted first-degree assault and handgun related offenses regarding threats that Sirleaf made toward a Montgomery College student and the subsequent possession of a handgun by Sirleaf and Vashakidze on the Montgomery College Germantown Campus.

Yesterday morning (Friday, October 5) at approximately 9:15, 5th District officers responded to the Montgomery College Germantown Campus located at 20200 Observation Drive in Germantown for the report of social media threats directed toward a Montgomery College student.  Officers spoke with the adult male victim who stated that on Monday, October 1, Sirleaf had been on the campus and had threatened to harm him. The victim further stated that Sirleaf had previously posted a photo on social media which showed Sirleaf holding a handgun. Sirleaf later posted on the same social media account that he was going to come to the Montgomery College Germantown Campus and look for the victim.

Officers who were on the college grounds looking for Sirleaf observed him and Vashakidze walking in a parking lot on the campus.   Upon seeing the officers, both Sirleaf and Vashakidze fled on foot but they were both quickly taken into custody.  Officers located a handgun in the backpack that Vashakidze was carrying.  Officers further located suspected marijuana and a digital scale in that backpack.

Sirleaf and Vashakidze were arrested and transported to the Germantown station.  During a police interview, Sirleaf admitted that the handgun, marijuana, and the scale were his.  Sirleaf also admitted that he had arrived on the campus carrying a gym bag at approximately 9:00 yesterday morning.  Sirleaf met Vashakidze in a campus bathroom inside the school and placed the handgun into a backpack that Vashakidze was carrying.

Sirleaf was transported to the Central Processing Unit where he was charged as an adult with attempted first-degree assault, possession of a handgun on school property and other handgun related offenses, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute.  Vashakidze was charged with possession of a handgun on school property and with the possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute.   Sirleaf is currently being held without bond. Vashakidze is currently being held on a $5,000 bond.

**Note: A photograph of Sirleaf will not be released due to his age.**
Guga VashakidzeGuga Vashakidze (Original Image)


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Release ID: 18-423
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: firearm