UPDATE: Detectives Investigate Gaithersburg Teen’s Death

About 7:48 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue personnel responded to a community basketball court located in the area of Hillstone Road and Timber Rock Road in Gaithersburg for the report of a teenage male who appeared to be in cardiac arrest.

Gaithersburg Police officers and Montgomery County Police officers also responded to the location. The patient, identified as Terry, was taken to the hospital. Detectives began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this medical event as Terry was considered to be in grave condition, police said.

Detectives have determined that on the morning of Jan. 29, two groups met at the basketball court with the intention of fighting. Terry, from one group, and an adult male from the other group, fought first. The fight between Terry and the other male involved minimal physical contact. After about 2 to 3 minutes of fighting, Terry stopped fighting and walked away from his opponent, appearing as if he were tired, police said.

Two other fights between individuals from the opposing groups occurred during the next 5 to 10 minutes, police said. While the third fight was occurring, Terry collapsed on the ground and became unconscious, and witnesses called 9-1-1, police said. Several witnesses captured the three fights and Terry’s collapse on cell phone video.

Terry was taken to a local hospital and then to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., police said. Tests were conducted to determine if Terry suffered any injury during the fight; no injury was detected, police said. Medical personnel determined that Terry had suffered a cardiac event and confirmed the presence of a pre-existing medical condition, police said. On Feb. 11, Terry was declared deceased at the hospital. It was determined that no autopsy would be conducted as the pre-existing condition had been identified, police said.

Investigators will review this case with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office to determine if any criminal charges are warranted in this case.