A 21-year-old Gaithersburg man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Nicholas Njuki has been arrested.
Shayan Solimani Damabi was arrested near the intersection of Montrose Rd. and Seven Locks Rd. Police had been searching for Solimani Damabi since identifying him as the suspect in the September 13 shooting. Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) Major Crimes Division detectives obtained an arrest warrant on September 15 charging him with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. Witnesses shared that officials from several law enforcement agencies were on hand during the arrest.
At approximately 2:02am on Sunday, September 13, Rockville City Police and MCPD officers responded to the parking lot of Quincy’s Potomac in the 1000 block of Seven Locks Rd. for a reported shooting. Officers found Njuki suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police, investigators determined that Njuki and Solimani Damabi had been involved in a confrontation inside the restaurant. Njuki and another person then left in a vehicle.
Police said Njuki and his companion later encountered Solimani Damabi near Fortune Terrace and Northside Park Blvd. Njuki exited the vehicle he was riding in and approached Solimani Damabi’s vehicle, where Solimani Damabi allegedly shot him. Police allege Solimani Damabi then fired at Njuki’s companion, who drove away. Solimani Damabi also allegedly fled the area.
Police subsequently identified Solimani Damabi as the suspect and said he may have been driving a red 2018 four-door Acura TLX with Maryland license plate 3GD6732. He was described as approximately 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing about 205 pounds.
Per MCPD:
“The man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Nicholas Njuki in Rockville is in custody.
On Thursday, September 17, 21-year-old Shayan Solimani Damabi, of Gaithersburg, was arrested by Montgomery County Department of Police officers assigned to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force after leaving a Gaithersburg motel. He was taken into custody without incident.
Solimani Damabi is accused of fatally shooting Njuki following an altercation inside a Rockville sports bar on September 13. After leaving the restaurant, Njuki and another person encountered Solimani Damabi, who was in a separate vehicle. Njuki got out of the vehicle he was riding in and approached Solimani Damabi’s car, where Solimani Damabi allegedly shot him.
Njuki was pronounced dead at the scene.
After reviewing surveillance video, Major Crimes Division homicide detectives identified Solimani Damabi as the shooter and obtained an arrest warrant charging him with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.
Solimani Damabi is currently being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he is awaiting a bond hearing.”
