Police Involved Shooting in Gaithersburg

UPDATED
June 25 @ 2 p.m.
The Montgomery County Police Department continues to investigate the officer-involved shooting that occurred in Gaithersburg on June 23.

According to police, he suspect is currently in the hospital and, although he is under arrest, he has not been formally charged. Following MCPD’s policy, the name of the suspect will not be released until he is discharged from the hospital and is formally charged.

According to police, the investigation has determined the suspect in MCPD custody is the same suspect involved in the domestic incident in Howard County. It has also been determined that the suspect did not discharge the shotgun at the time he was stopped by officers.

The name of the involved officer is Police Officer III David Delacruz, a 19-year veteran of the department.

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UPDATED
Montgomery County police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred overnight in Gaithersburg near Quince Orchard Road and Great Seneca Highway.

According to police, the Emergency Communications Center received a call shortly after 10 p.m. on June 23 from the Howard County Police Department that a suspect involved in a domestic incident could be in Montgomery County at an address on Quince Orchard Road. Police were advised the suspect might have a firearm and may be driving a Ford Explorer. Police responded to the residence and observed a male enter a Ford Explorer and leave the residence. At approximately 11:29 p.m., police initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at the intersection of Quince Orchard Road and Darnestown Road. As police approached the vehicle, police said they observed a shotgun in the Explorer. According to police, during the traffic stop exchange between officers and the suspect, an officer fired his handgun at the suspect. According to police, the suspect was struck in the arm and leg but continued to flee in his vehicle on Quince Orchard Road. Police said officer pursued the suspect and at the intersection of Quince Orchard Road and Great Seneca Highway the Ford Explorer struck a vehicle that was stopped at a red light on Great Seneca Highway. Police said the suspect was taken into custody and a shotgun was recovered from the Explorer.

According to police, the suspect was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The female driver of the vehicle involved in the collision was not injured, police said, and there were no injuries to officers.

The number of shots fired and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, police said. The suspect’s identity and charges will be released at a later time, according to police.

As is standard procedure, the involved officer, a 19-year veteran of the department, has been placed on paid, administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5070.

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