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.