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| Photo courtesy Clark W Day Photo-Graphics |
Update 3: The City issued the following press release:
Police Investigate Shooting Incident at Gaithersburg Apartment Building
Posted 3/27/2009Gaithersburg Police Detectives are investigating a shooting incident that occurred at 10:00 p.m. on March 26 in an apartment building in the 400 block of North Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg.
At 10:00 p.m. police received several calls from residents in the 400 block of North Frederick Avenue advising of the sounds of gunfire. Investigation revealed that three men arrived at the apartment building and engaged in a verbal dispute with three men inside one of the apartments. The dispute escalated and the two groups exchanged gunfire. One group retreated into the apartment, and the other group fled the scene in an unknown vehicle.
Police evacuated the apartment building and cordoned off the area. The occupants of the apartment initially refused to come out for police and were observed throwing drugs and guns out a rear window of the apartment. The Montgomery County Police Emergency Response Team responded and a police negotiator was able to convince the occupants of the apartment to exit the apartment without incident.
No one was injured from the gunfire, but a woman who had been in the apartment injured her ankle as she attempted to escape from a third floor window. She was transported to an area hospital.
The residents of the apartment building were not allowed back into their homes for approximately four hours as the police investigated the incident.
The three men found in the apartment have been charged by the Gaithersburg Police with Reckless Endangerment; Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances; Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in Drug Trafficking; and Discharging a Firearm in the Urban Area. The identities of the three men charged are not being released at this time. The investigation is continuing. This incident is considered to be gang-related.
Update: Channel 9 has a video online.
According to WTOP:
An apartment building has been evacuated after gunfire broke out Thursday night in Gaithersburg.
Gaithersburg Police tell WTOP shots were exchanged around 10 p.m. between two groups in the 400 block of North Frederick Road.
Upon searching the building, police found guns behind an apartment that is the home to six tenants. Police believe the weapons were tossed from the window.
According to Channel 7:
The Montgomery County Police Department’s SWAT team was called to the scene. The standoff ended shortly before midnight, according to Lt. Starks.
WTOP also reported that a woman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after jumping from a third-floor window when she heard the shots. Witnesses, WTOP says, saw three people flee the scene.
By early morning on Friday, the case had been turned over to Gaithersburg police.
According to Channel 9:
GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WUSA) — Montgomery County Police and S.W.A.T are on the scene of a shooting and standoff. Just after 10:15pm, Police responded to 439 North Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, Md. for reports of two men firing shotguns last seen running into an apartment building. A woman was reportedly seen jumping from a 2nd story window. She is being treated on the scene at this time.
Montgomery County Police and S.W.A.T have set up a perimeter and are closing off areas around this very active scene. 9 News Now Digital Correspondent, Nancy Yamada is in route and she will have the latest on this developing story after the NCAA Basketball games.
According to WTOP:
GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Route 355 in Gaithersburg is closed in both directions between Perry Parkway and south of Montgomery Village Avenue due to police activity.
WTOP has been in contact with the Montgomery County Police Department, but there is no further information at this time.
More details will follow as they become available.