News Releases

For Immediate Release: Monday, February 28, 2022

Gaithersburg, MD - Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police Major Crimes Division – Homicide Section, have arrested and charged a Rockville man in connection with a homicide at the Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg.

On Monday, February 21, Gaithersburg City and Montgomery County Police officers responded to Lakeforest Mall, located at 701 Russell Ave. for a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers located 23-year-old Jose Alexander Maldonado suffering from multiple stab wounds. Maldonado was transported to an area hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The investigation by detectives revealed that the victim was working in the T-Mobile store inside of the mall, when the suspect, 25-year-old Trenton Flowers-Jackson, entered the store and immediately began to stab Maldonado.

Maldonado attempted to escape but collapsed near the food court in the mall. Through the course of the investigation, detectives were able to identify and connect Flowers-Jackson to the homicide. The investigation also revealed that Flowers-Jackson and Maldonado were known to one-another.

Flowers-Jackson was arrested in Rockville on Saturday, February 26, and on the strength of an arrest warrant, has been charged with first-degree murder. He is currently being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he awaits a bond hearing, scheduled for Monday afternoon, February 28.