Driving News, Crime & Press Releases

July 20, 2008 

(Frederick, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating the apparent murder of a Montgomery County man who was found shot after his car ran off the road in Frederick County early this morning. 

                    The victim has not been positively identified, but is believed to be a 27-year-old man from Montgomery County.  He was pronounced dead at about 2:30 a.m. today at the Washington County Hospital trauma center. 

                    Shortly before 1:30 a.m. today, Maryland State Police at the Frederick Barracks were dispatched to the intersection of Hanover Drive and Ballenger Creek Pike for what a caller said was a single-vehicle crash.  Arriving at the scene, troopers found the victim behind the wheel of a car that had jumped a curb at the intersection before coming to rest.

                          Troopers found the victim had sustained what appeared to be at least one gunshot wound to his upper torso.  The man was flown by a Maryland State Police helicopter to the Washington County Hospital, where he later died. 

                    Witnesses in the area told police two persons were seen running from the area when the shots were fired.  Frederick County deputies located two individuals who were interviewed, but have not been charged.  No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed at this time.  A weapon has not been recovered.   

                          Troopers continue to follow leads, conduct interviews and review evidence during this very active investigation.  Investigators from the State Police Homicide Unit are receiving assistance from the Criminal Investigation Section at the Frederick Barracks, the State Police Special Operations Division, the State Police CRASH Team, and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. 

                    The preliminary investigation indicates the victim and his girlfriend, who lives in Frederick and whose car he was driving, were at a party in the area.  The victim unexpectedly left the party and was soon found in the car, fatally wounded.  The car the victim was driving is described as a silver, four-door, Mercury Marquis.  A motive for the murder has not been identified at this time. 

                     The investigation is continuing.  Anyone who has information about this homicide, or who may have seen the vehicle the victim was driving is urged to immediately contact Maryland State Police at the Frederick Barracks, at 301-600-4151.
 

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