News Releases

Officer-Involved Shooting of Armed Bank Robbery Suspect Investigated in Silver Spring

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Detectives with the Major Crimes Division of the Montgomery County Department of Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting of an armed bank robbery suspect that occurred today in Silver Spring.

The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 10:48 a.m., the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call for the report of a robbery in progress at the BB&T Bank located at 1100 Wayne Avenue.  The caller stated that the suspect was armed with a gun and claimed to have a bomb.  The caller was able to provide the call taker with a description of the suspect.

An officer responding to the bank robbery located the suspect in a parking garage behind the bank building as the suspect was attempting to flee from the area.  During the confrontation, the suspect was shot by the police officer.  Officers attempted life-saving measures at the scene.  Fire & Rescue personnel transported the suspect to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Montgomery County Fire and Explosive Investigative Unit determined that the device found in the backpack worn by the suspect at the bank and during the encounter with the officer, did not have explosive capabilities but was made to appear as an explosive device.  The suspect's handgun was recovered on his person.

The preliminary investigation by detectives has determined that the suspect entered the bank and approached the manager in his/her office.  The suspect demanded cash and stated that he had a bomb in his backpack.  The suspect also lifted up his jacket and displayed a gun in his waistband.  The suspect fled from the bank without obtaining any money and came into contact with the officer in the parking garage.

Detectives are currently reviewing all available video footage, to include officers' body-worn camera footage and all other evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.

It is anticipated that the identity of the suspect will be released tomorrow.

The identity of the officer, a two-and-a-half year veteran of the Department, will be released tomorrow.  Per protocol, he has been placed on paid, Administrative Leave.

Following the established procedure, once Major Crimes detectives complete their investigation of the officer-involved shooting, the findings will be submitted to the Howard County’s State’s Attorney’s Office for review.*

This incident in its entirety remains under investigation.  Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.  Callers may remain anonymous.

{*An established agreement between the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office stipulates that when an officer-involved shooting involving injury or death occurs in one county, the other county’s State’s Attorney’s Office will review the event.}

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Release ID: 19-023
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: bank-robbery