Javier Reyes, 22, of Silver Spring, was found guilty of second-degree felony murder and handgun use in the death of Walter Woods during a drug deal in March 2023 and faces up to 60 years in prison at his February 2025 sentencing.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jill Cummins, a jury has found defendant Javier Reyes, 22, of Silver Spring, guilty of second-degree felony murder and use of a handgun in a crime of violence for the death of 20-year-old Walter Woods of Takoma Park.
Reyes faces up to 60 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 18, 2025.
This stems from a shooting on Hampshire Green Lane in Silver Spring on March 7, 2023. An investigation by Montgomery County Police determined the defendant and victim met at a neighborhood park to conduct a drug deal. Officers responding to a 911 call for the sound of gunshots fired, found Woods lying in the playground area unresponsive. Woods was suffering from four gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Thea Zumwalt and Jacqueline Taylor are prosecuting this case. We are thankful for their work in this matter, along with investigations conduction by both Montgomery County Police and Maryland State Police. In the months prior to the shooting, Maryland State Police had been conducting an investigation involving controlled buys of Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS). As part of that effort, Reyes was recorded on video selling drugs and discussing having a .380 caliber handgun available to sell. Prior to the murder, Reyes posted a social media photo of himself with an identifying tattoo visible, holding the handgun. That handgun is believed to be the murder weapon.”
