News Releases

Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Investigating North Bethesda Homicide

For Immediate Release: Monday, September 22, 2025

Gaithersburg, MD – The Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division, Homicide Section is investigating the shooting death of a 29-year-old North Bethesda man. A Hyattsville man is charged with kidnapping, and two suspects remain outstanding.

On Sunday, September 21, 2025, at approximately 7:40 a.m., 1st District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 5900 block of Montrose Road in North Bethesda for a reported working code. Officers found 29-year-old Akwalabeng Fontava inside an apartment with an apparent gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Homicide detectives were notified and responded to the location.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that an adult man and woman who were also inside the apartment were allegedly kidnapped and forced into a vehicle following the shooting. The man was later released in Silver Spring. Detectives located the car at Westfield Montgomery Mall, where the woman was found with 37-year-old Sheldon Milan Boykins of Hyattsville.

Boykins was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he was charged with two counts of kidnapping and firearms related offenses.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives continue to search for two additional adult male suspects believed to be involved.

Anyone with information about the suspects or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org, click on “Submit a Tip,” or call 1-866-411-8477. Tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward ranging from $250 to $10,000.

# # #

Release ID: 25-442
Media Contact: S.D. Goff 
Categories: arrest , homicide , kidnapping