Trial scheduled for Westbard shooting suspect

A scheduling hearing was finally held last Friday, July 25, 2025, for the trial of the lone suspect arrested so far in the March 29, 2025 shooting on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. The three-day jury trial of Devon Edwards, 22, is now scheduled for January 7, 2026, in the courtroom of Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge J. Bradford McCullough. Edwards is facing charges of felony 1st-degree assault, reckless endangerment, loaded handgun on person, and discharging a firearm in an urban area in the shooting outside of the Bowlero bowling alley at 5353 Westbard Avenue at Westbard Square. He is being held without bond at the County jail in Clarksburg. Two people were injured in the shootout, and one or more additional alleged shooters have outwitted capture and still remain at-large.

Westbard shooting suspect hearing postponed after defense motions filed

A hearing to schedule a trial for the sole suspect arrested so far in the March 29, 2025 shooting on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda has been postponed until this Friday, July 25, after the suspect's attorney filed several motions in advance of last Friday's original hearing date. Devon Edwards, 22, is facing charges of felony 1st-degree assault, reckless endangerment, loaded handgun on person, and discharging a firearm in an urban area in the shooting outside of the Bowlero bowling alley at 5353 Westbard Avenue at Westbard Square. Two people were injured in the shootout, and one or more additional alleged shooters still remain at-large.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge James A. Bonifant postponed last Friday's hearing, after attorney Danielle Moore of the Office of the Public Defender filed motions requesting a speedy trial, demanding discovery and inspection, requesting production of the grand jury transcript, and to suppress/exclude evidence, dismiss and severance. The latter was a request to separate the charges or to entirely dismiss the charges. Last week's actions also now confirm that the charges Edwards faces were the result of grand jury proceedings.

Westbard shooting suspect indicted on multiple charges

Devon Edwards

The only suspect arrested so far in the March 29, 2025 shooting on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda has been criminally indicted on multiple charges. Filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville, the criminal charges represent a significant development in the case. Following his arrest on May 23 in Washington, D.C., Devon Edwards, 22, had only been charged with "loaded handgun on person," and "handgun on person," which are only misdemeanors. He has been held without bail since that time, awaiting a July 14 trial. That trial has now been postponed, and Edwards has been charged with felony 1st-degree assault, reckless endangerment, loaded handgun on person, and discharging a firearm in an urban area.

Neither the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office nor the Montgomery County Police Department have commented publicly on the case since Edwards' arrest. However, the original case filed against Edwards was a "stipulated order of continuance."  An SOC is an agreement between a defendant and the prosecutor that sets conditions which, if met by the defendant, will result in the charges being dropped. If the conditions are not met, the case will then go to trial. It appears that the conditions agreed to were not met, and the prosecutor is now throwing the (relatively thin) book at the defendant.

According to Maryland court records, Edwards is still being held without bond in the Clarksburg jail. A hearing to schedule a new trial date will be held this Friday, July 18. Police still have not commented on how many shooters there were in the shocking March 29 gunfight outside of Bowlero at 5353 Westbard Avenue, only that there was more than one. The additional alleged shooter(s) remain at large. Two people were injured in the shooting. "Earwitnesses" reported hearing 20-30 shots being fired, and police were seen recovering multiple shell casings from a wide area on Westbard Avenue.

Police have asked anyone with information regarding additional suspects or this crime to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org, and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page, or call 1-866-411-8477.  A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of additional suspects. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

One Westbard shooting suspect arrested, remaining shooters still at large

Two months after a barrage of gunfire erupted outside of the Bowlero bowling alley at 5353 Westbard Avenue at Westbard Square in Bethesda, Montgomery County police have announced their first arrest in the case. Devon Edwards, 22, "of an unknown address," was taken into custody by Metropolitan Police Department officers in Washington, D.C. last Friday, May 23, 2025, Montgomery County police said in a statement yesterday. The statement said Edwards has been charged with first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, reckless endangerment, and conspiracy to commit malicious destruction of property.

County police provided a few details about the incident, including that there were multiple shooters, who remain at-large. They have not provided a motive or narrative of what happened around 12:13 AM on March 29, but stated that there were two "groups" who "exchanged gunfire." In a twist that perhaps Christopher Wray could appreciate, police indicated that the two victims of the shooting were not wounded, but only injured by "broken glass." A local journalist listening to police radio communications immediately after the 911 call March 29 reported hearing that a female victim had been "grazed in the face by a bullet in the parking lot" of Bowlero. Perhaps the victim or bystanders had not yet realized the cause of the wound at that early juncture, which would explain the discrepancy.

I noticed that many mainstream media outlets were simply glossing over the press release, so it's worthwhile digging a bit deeper into what new information we have - or have not - learned from that statement, and from elsewhere.

• It is now confirmed for the first time that there were multiple shooters, which provides supporting context for the wide spread of the shell casings and property damage at the scene, as well as the "earwitness" reports of 20 to 30 rounds being fired.

• We do not know how many shooters there were in total.

• Police have confirmed for the first time that they have surveillance video from Bowlero that showed enough to determine that there were two groups shooting at each other, and that there were multiple shooters.

• Police have not indicated whether they have clear images of any or all of the shooting suspects, and/or the getaway vehicles, or when they will - if ever - make those public to assist in tracking down all of the suspected shooters. It's challenging for the public to assist if there are no suspect or vehicle descriptions available.

• The red Honda Accord referred to as one of the getaway vehicles in radio communications has not been mentioned or confirmed by police thus far. Yesterday's statement did not mention any of the many Westbard Square, traffic, surveillance, or doorbell cameras that would have captured the fleeing vehicles on any of the possible escape routes from Westbard Avenue.

• The charges that the statement indicated have been filed against Edwards do not appear in Maryland online court records.

• A different case filed in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville against a defendant with the same name and age, which cites a firearm-related incident taking place on March 29 (the same day of the Westbard shooting), is described as a "Criminal SOC Application" case type. 

• The defendant in that case was arrested under a warrant issued on April 22, 2025.

• The defendant in that case has been charged only with Loaded Handgun on Person, and Handgun on Person, both misdemeanors.

• "Criminal SOC Application" refers to a "stipulated order of continuance." This is an agreement between a defendant and the prosecutor that sets conditions that, if met by the defendant, will result in the charges being dropped. If the conditions are not met, the case will then go to trial.

• Yesterday's statement indicated Edwards is being held without bond in the County jail.

• The defendant of the same name and age in the other case has a bail hearing scheduled for tomorrow, and a trial date of July 14 in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.

Perhaps one of our resident attorneys or law enforcement professionals can comment below as to what the significance of the "Criminal SOC Application" case is in this situation, and why the charges listed differ from those in yesterday's press release.

Given that the other alleged shooters in the incident remain at large, yesterday's press release said, police still need the public's help in this case. Anyone with information regarding the additional suspects or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477.  A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspects. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Westbard shooting suspect(s) remain at large 2 months later

Two months after a barrage of gunfire wounded two people near Bowlero at 5353 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda, the shooting suspect(s) remain at large. The community in the Westbard area continues to await answers to the many questions surrounding the shocking event that occurred at 12:13 AM on March 29, 2025. Not only have Montgomery County police and elected officials continued to remain silent on the incident over the last eight weeks, but no suspect descriptions nor any surveillance video of the suspect(s) and the getaway vehicle have been released. 

Where is the surveillance video from Bowlero and Westbard Square across the street? Who fired what several ear-witnesses described as 20-30 rounds, and where did they come from? Where they went would be evident from the many surveillance and traffic cameras along every potential escape route from Westbard Avenue. The current message to criminals in the region is that Westbard is a place where serious crimes can be committed without consequence, exactly the opposite of what Montgomery County should be communicating.

Westbard shooting suspect(s) remain at large 7 weeks later

The search for answers in the March 29, 2025 shooting on Westbard Avenue is entering its eighth week. Whoever fired a barrage of shots outside the Bethesda Bowlero bowling alley at 12:13 AM that morning continues to live their best life in sweet freedom, unencumbered by the scales of justice and the long arm of the law. In Montgomery County, that's the remaining arm of the law that isn't tied behind the back by our pro-criminal elected officials. Two people were wounded in the shooting, and only luck prevented there from being more victims. The Montgomery County Council and County police remained silent on the shocking gunplay in a quiet residential area for a seventh week.

Six weeks later, no arrests in Westbard shooting

The March 29, 2025 shooting on Westbard Avenue can hardly be termed a cold case yet, but a sixth week has passed without any announcement of an arrest in the shocking incident. Two people were wounded in the shooting outside of Bowlero at 5353 Westbard Avenue at 12:13 AM that morning. We know that those two victims are also two of potentially many witnesses to what unfolded there; there are surveillance cameras at the bowling alley, Westbard Square, and Westwood Tower; and that there are surveillance, traffic, and doorbell cameras along every potential route of escape taken by the shooter(s). As the sixth week passed, the Montgomery County Council and Montgomery County Police Department have maintained their silence on the incident, which was without precedent in the Westbard area of Bethesda.

Westbard shooting suspect(s) enjoy fifth week of freedom

The suspect(s) in the March 29, 2025 shooting on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda remain at-large five weeks after the incident. Two people were wounded outside of the Bowlero bowling alley at 5353 Westbard Avenue at 12:13 AM that Saturday morning. Montgomery County police and Montgomery County elected officials remained completely silent on the shooting and the investigation for another week. The community is still awaiting answers to the many questions about this shocking incident, and for the identification and arrest of the person(s) responsible for the barrage of gunfire in a quiet residential neighborhood in the 20816 zip code.

Westbard shooting suspect(s) still on the lam a month later

The suspect(s) in the March 29, 2025 shooting on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda remain at large four weeks after the incident. Two people were wounded outside of Bowlero at 5353 Westbard Avenue at 12:13 AM that morning. Montgomery County police and Montgomery County elected officials remain silent on the shooting and investigation. We haven't even heard from Moms Demand Action! 

While no information is being provided by official sources, this past week another unofficial tidbit was provided by a patron of the bowling alley, who visited on the Monday following the shooting. They reported seeing bullet holes in the main entrance doors, and that glass panels were boarded up. 

We've seen every effort made to reduce the 2nd Amendment rights of law abiding citizens in Montgomery County. Tackling the criminals who are actually opening fire in public places? There doesn't seem to be the same energy, to say the least. Can our officials summon the same fury and contempt they have for the law-abiding gun owner for the criminals on our streets? A mass shooting left two people wounded in the 20816 zip code, and the action is not matching the rhetoric, folks.

"Maryland has made bold efforts to reduce gun violence...Montgomery County has continued to take action by appropriately exercising its granted legislative authority to pass laws to address gun violence." - Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown

"Our goal is to move closer to ending gun violence in Montgomery County.” - Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart

"We have had enough of thoughts and prayers. We need to act." - Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass

"We don't have to accept gun violence as an inevitability...Montgomery County continues to push the envelope as much as we possibly can within the legal parameters that we have." - Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson

"Maryland is leading the way...We passed an assault rifle ban. Since then, we've banned ghost guns, passed universal background checks, red flag laws, and just this past session...we ended gun immunity - gun industry immunity in Maryland." - State Senator Jeff Waldstreicher (D - District 18)

Westbard shooting suspect(s) remain at large for a third week

The suspect(s) in the March 29, 2025 shooting on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda have managed to evade capture for a third week. And we have to continue to say "suspect(s)," because the public hasn't even been informed of how many shooters there were, or what exactly happened outside the Bowlero bowling alley at 12:13 AM that morning. What we do know is that two people were wounded in the shooting, multiple ear-witnesses claim they heard twenty to thirty shots being fired, and that numerous shell casings were recovered over a wide area. 

While the Montgomery County Council has much to say about firearms and gun violence, they have been strangely silent about the Westbard shooting. Who fired the shots? Where did they come from? Where are they now? Where's the accountability? Inquiring minds want to know.

Westbard shooter(s) remain at large

Montgomery County police have issued their latest official crime report. It includes the shooting on Westbard Avenue shortly after midnight on March 29, 2025. Two victims were wounded in the incident. As shocking as the barrage of gunfire in a quiet, previously low-crime Bethesda neighborhood, is that nearly a week later, there have not only been no arrests announced in the case, but the crime report indicates that detectives do not yet even have a description of the suspect(s) involved. 

Surely the perpetrator(s) and the getaway car are on numerous surveillance and traffic cameras, including those at Bowlmor and at Westbard Square across the street. I also checked the public log for the new police department drone, and there is no record of the Bethesda-based drone being launched to pursue and locate the getaway vehicle following the initial report of shots fired. The vehicle was initially described as a "red Honda Accord." While the Montgomery County Council has weighed in on controversial national political events this past week, it has been silent on the Westbard shooting.

Shooting on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda (Video + Photos)

UPDATE - 7:17 PM: Montgomery County police have confirmed that there were two victims in the shooting. Both had non-life-threatening injuries, but one had to be transported to a local hospital for treatment. Police also confirmed that no suspects are in custody at this time.

Montgomery County and Maryland-National Capital Park police responded to a report of a shooting in the 5300 block of Westbard Avenue in Bethesda early this morning. The shooting took place near the intersection of Westbard Avenue and Zenith Overlook, in the vicinity of the Bowlero bowling alley, shortly after 12:00 AM. According to @DCNewsLive on X, an adult female victim was grazed in the face by a bullet, and the alleged shooter fled the scene in a red Honda Accord. Police radio communications referred to a "rifle."

The crime scene quickly expanded in size as the morning went on. Officers combing the area around the bowling alley noticed there was also evidence in the street, and ordered Westbard Avenue closed to traffic. Police appeared to recover several shell casings from the road in front of the Westwood Tower property next to the bowling alley. There is no word yet from Montgomery County police on the condition of the victim, or on this incident in general, as of this writing. The suspect(s) presumably remain at large.

Montgomery Mall shooting result of argument; Patrizia Luca moves; Sears springs forward (Photos)

Montgomery County police said last evening that shots fired in the parking lot of Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda around 7:08 PM Friday night were the result of a "verbal argument." Only the parties involved in that argument were involved in the shooting, detectives believe. Police say they still have not found any victims of the shooting.

Two groups of two males each squared off in an argument near the mall property, police said. The dispute continued onto the mall parking lot, where one suspect opened fire on the other party. They then fled, police said, and none of the suspects has been arrested or located yet.

In other mall news, Patrizia Luca has relocated to the just-vacated Sheepskin Gifts & Alpaca, Too space. Meanwhile, Sears is defying the endless string of Nor'Easters hitting the area with their Spring Fling sale.

Westfield Montgomery Mall shooting update

Mugshot of the
accused Westfield Montgomery Mall
and Aspen Hill shooter

While the suspect in the shooting rampage that left two dead in Montgomery County Friday may have begun a day earlier with a domestic-related homicide in Prince George's County, police now believe the Bethesda and Aspen Hill shootings may have been carjacking attempts. Assistant Montgomery County Police Chief Russ Hamill said carjacking is believed to have been the motive in both shopping center incidents, based on interviews with the defendant in the case.

At a press conference last evening, Hamill said the suspect, 62-year-old Eulalio Sevilla Tordil, has been charged with 2 counts of 1st degree murder in the deaths of Malcom Winfell, 45 (at Montgomery Mall), and Claudina Molina, 65 (at Aspen Hill Shopping Center). Tordil also faces 2 counts of attempted 1st degree murder, and 4 counts of use of a firearm during an attempted felony crime.

Hamill said a search warrant was served on Tordil's vehicle. Detectives recovered a .40 caliber Glock Model 27 from the interior. Through ballistic testing, detectives have confirmed this same firearm was used in both Montgomery County shootings, but it has not yet been officially linked to the Prince George's shooting.

After initial investigation, Hamill said police have so far found "no linkages" between Tordil and his Montgomery County victims. Two survivors' identities are being withheld because they are witnesses, Hamill said.

Winfell is survived by his wife and two children. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to support his family, and cover the expenses of his funeral.

Tordil is expected in court Monday.

Photo courtesy Montgomery County Police