Police have not released any further description of the suspect, or the model year of the Camaro, as of this writing. If you can identify the suspect, or have any other information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.
An elderly man was assaulted and carjacked two days later on Chevy Chase Drive. Police have now confirmed the man suffered minor injuries in the attack, in which his 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen.
Photos courtesy MCPD
Fox 5's Sierra Fox reported that the victim was parking her 2018 Hyundai Tucson on Elm Street at 12:11 AM, when a dark colored SUV appeared and began making an illegal turn. The suspect emerged from the SUV, and forcibly stopped her from closing her door. He then pointed a gun at her, and shouted for her to get out of the vehicle. The victim was reportedly not physically injured.
"The safety of our employees is always our first priority, and we are in constant communication with the [Montgomery County Police Department] about the incident, safety in the area, and other steps that may be taken," Fox 5 General Manager Patrick Paolini said in a statement. The police department has not said anything publicly about the carjacking as of this writing.
A Montgomery County police officer was parked nearby, and responded immediately. Upon seeing the officer, the suspect leapt out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Stay alert to your surroundings, as the suspect is believed to be still at-large.
The sole adult suspect arrested is Herbert Randall, 18. Two juveniles, Katelyn McKiernan, 16, and Caleb Fraker, 17, are being charged as adults. All three allegedly "admitted to committing the carjacking" during an interview at police headquarters, according to a department press release. Fraker was the last to be arrested, after police executed a search warrant.
A third juvenile, a 15-year-old female, is being charged as a juvenile and has been released into the custody of a parent. Police did not disclose the current custody or bail status of the other three suspects, nor their towns of residence. They did not release any information about the number or type of firearm(s) used, nor how they were acquired. Only Randall's mugshot was released.
As I reported last week, the stolen Hyundai Elantra was recovered by police, and was a rental car registered in Washington, D.C. In their press release, police disclosed that a tracking chip inside the car allowed them to locate it. They also indicated that one of the suspects pointed a firearm directly at the chest of one of the two victims when demanding the keys to the Hyundai.
Gagen says the victim was returning home Tuesday morning, and parked in her driveway. She noticed an individual inside a vehicle parked in front of the home, and "confronted" that individual. That person produced a firearm, and proceeded to carjack her vehicle from the driveway. The victim's vehicle was then seen following a silver 4-door sedan out of the neighborhood.
No description of the suspects has been released so far, but detectives are working to identify them. Gagen advises residents to "continue to lock your car doors, remove valuables from inside the passenger compartments, and always take your keys with you." He also urges residents to call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 if they observe unusual or suspicious activity, and 911 if it appears to be an emergency situation.
The carjacking was reported in the 7700 block of Westfield Drive at 10:41 AM, according to crime data; the vehicle taken was parked in the driveway of a home. Montgomery County police have not publicly addressed this incident as of this writing.
