A Silver Spring man, who is already scheduled to stand trial in a separate murder case involving the death of his pregnant girlfriend, has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of a 61-year-old man at a Shell station in Silver Spring in February 2022.
Per the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD before the Honorable Rachel McGuckian, a jury has found defendant Torrey Damien Moore, 33, of Silver Spring, guilty of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence and illegal possession of a regulated firearm for the shooting death of 61-year-old Ayalew Wondimu.
The jury returned its verdict yesterday, May 16, 2024. Moore faces the potential of life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge McGuckian on December 12, 2024.
On November 18, 2024, the defendant is scheduled to stand trial in a separate murder case. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and related charges for the death of his pregnant girlfriend and the unborn fetus she was carrying.
On February 8, 2022, Moore entered the Dash In convenience store at the Shell Gas station located along the 11000 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring and walked up to the counter to purchase a drink. Management had previously banned Moore from the store. Moore and the store clerk, Ayalew Wondimu, became engaged in a verbal altercation. The defendant began throwing energy drink shot bottles at the victim, which struck him. The victim, Wondimu picked up a metal pole and attempted to strike Moore as he ordered Moore to leave. Moore produced a handgun and shot Wondimu. Wondimu fell to the floor and Moore leaned over the counter, shooting the victim again as he was helpless on the ground. Wondimu was shot a total of three times. Moore then fled the scene. The incident was captured by a store surveillance camera.
An investigation conducted by Montgomery County Police detectives developed Moore as a suspect in the death of Wondimu. When officers arrived at Moore’s apartment in the 11000 block of Oak Leaf Drive in Silver Spring to serve an arrest warrant on February 9, 2022, they discovered the body of a deceased, pregnant, female in advanced stage of decomposition inside the residence. An autopsy revealed the woman, identified as 26-year-old Denise Middleton, had been shot multiple times. The male fetus Middleton was carrying was viable at the time of death.
Assistant State’s Attorneys James Dietrich and Jodie Mount are prosecuting these cases.”
