Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Montgomery County Police Investigating Wheaton Metro Homicide; Identity of Victim Released

Published May 19, 2023 at 2:51PM | Updated May 19, 2023 at 3:16PM

Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division is investigating the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old inside of the Wheaton Metro station on Thursday, May 18, 2023. At approximately 5:53 p.m., 4thDistrict officers responded to the Wheaton Metro Station on Georgia Ave., for a report of a shooting that just occurred. Upon arrival, officers located Tenneson Vaughn Leslie, Jr., of Greenbelt, suffering from a gunshot wound.Leslie, Jr. was transported to an area hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Leslie, Jr. was with a group of people inside of the Wheaton station. Leslie, Jr. and his associates got into an altercation with a group of other males on the escalator. The dispute between the two groups escalated and Leslie, Jr. was shot on the train platform. The suspects ran from the scene. Montgomery County and Metro Transit Police searched surrounding areas for the suspects, however no one is in custody at this time.

Germantown

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 17-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2023 at 1:18PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Kelvin Chovett, a missing 17-year-old from Germantown.

Kelvin was last seen on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at approximately 5:52 p.m., at his residence on Mountain Lake Terrance in Germantown. Kelvin is approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. Police and family are concerned for his welfare.

MCPD

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 16-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2023 at 11:38AM | Updated May 25, 2023 at 10:06AM

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Amadeus Adagala is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

Gaithersburg

Update on Friday Morning Collision Involving MCPS School Bus

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2023 at 11:35AM | Updated May 19, 2023 at 6:42PM

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the school bus was turning left from East Village Avenue onto Plum Creek Drive when it was struck by a BMW traveling on East Village Avenue. The driver and passenger of the BMW were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries.

There were six occupants on the school bus. Some occupants on the bus sustained minor injuries but none were transported to area hospitals.

Gaithersburg

MCFRS Respond to Serious Collision Involving School Bus in Gaithersburg; Bus Not Occupied With Children

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2023 at 8:50AM | Updated May 19, 2023 at 1:10PM

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the school bus was turning left from Plum Creek Road onto East Village Avenue when it was struck by a BMW traveling on East Village Avenue. The driver and passenger of the BMW were transported to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries.

RT @mcfrsPIO7 East Village at Plum Creek, serious collision. Road closure, motorists should avoid the area. @MCFRSNews @mcfrsPIO @DavidPazos15 https://t.co/tGmhRibxtQ pic.twitter.com/TgBatVRh6m

MCFRS

MCFRS Respond to Fire at Rockville Metro Friday Morning; Station Currently Being Bypassed

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2023 at 8:21AM | Updated May 19, 2023 at 9:04AM

Update: Train service has been restored between Twinbrook & Shady Grove following earlier fire dept. activity outside Rockville. Expect delays.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) units are currently at the at Rockville Metro (1001 Rockville Pike) for a small fire in the roadway, according to Assistant Chief with MCFRS David Pazos. The station is currently being bypassed while MCFRS extinguishes the fire. There are no injuries reported.

MCPD

Update on Wheaton Metro Homicide

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2023 at 7:42AM

Montgomery County Police has released additional information regarding Thursday’s shooting at the Wheaton Metro station. According to MCPD, “The victim in yesterday’s Metro station shooting has died. This is now being investigated as a homicide.

At approximately 5:53 p.m., Montgomery County Department of Police – 4thDistrict officers were called to the Wheaton Metro station on Georgia Avenue, for a shooting that just occurred. Preliminarily, there was an altercation between individuals on the escalator inside of the station. The dispute escalated and an 18-year-old male was shot on the train platform.

Education

MCEA: “Montgomery County Council Votes to Starve Our School System”

By Patrick Herron

Published May 18, 2023 at 9:44PM

Powerful monied interests spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to block a tax that would have fully funded the MCPS budget. Their efforts have largely paid off. Although thousands of students participated in two separate walk-outs, over ten thousand community members signed a petition sent to the county council, and countless others made phone calls advocating for a fully funded budget, most of the council ignored their pleas. Today, the county council showed that they care more about their political future and donations from developers than they do about doing

We are dismayed by the county council’s decision today to turn their backs on the students and communities they serve. If they hold fast to this decision in their final vote on May 251, MCEA members will remember their votes the next time candidates seek our endorsement. While the final responsibility for funding our negotiated agreements lies with MCPS, our members will not forget the role the county council played in bringing us to this point.

Highways / Interstates

State Highway Administration to Open Brookeville Bypass on MD 97 (Georgia Ave) to Traffic

By Patrick Herron

Published May 18, 2023 at 9:31PM

Per the MDSHA: The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will open the new Brookeville Bypass on MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) in Montgomery County to traffic on Sunday, May 21, weather permitting. While additional work remains on the overall $46.8 million Brookeville project, the administration is able to open the two-lane, 0.7-mile bypass now, including its bicycle-compatible shoulders between north of Goldmine Road and south of Holiday Drive.

The project includes the construction of two bridges – one at Meadow Branch stream and the other at Reddy Branch stream – and two single-lane roundabouts that will improve traffic flow and safety operations. Other improvements include the construction of Americans with Disability Act compliant sidewalk ramps, new stormwater management facilities and drainage systems, new lighting and signage, and new paving and pavement markings.

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Votes to Approve Preliminary Agreement on $6.7 Billion Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget; County’s Property Tax Rate to Increase 4.7% With $692 Tax Credit

By Patrick Herron

Published May 18, 2023 at 8:43PM

Per Montgomery County: Today the Montgomery County Council reached a preliminary agreement on the County’s $6.7 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Operating Budget and the $5.7 billion amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). “This budget makes historic investments in education and in meeting the needs of our residents and our workforce,” said Council President Evan Glass. “We achieved these goals by reducing the proposed property tax, finding efficiencies in government operations and making strategic investments to keep Montgomery County moving forward.”

“The Council’s budget deliberations carefully balanced our strong and steadfast commitment to our students and teachers with our residents’ many other priorities, while also upholding our responsibility to be fiscal stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Glass. “We fully funded teacher contracts and met salary and benefit agreements for our hardworking first responders, police and healthcare workers. At the same time, we cut the County Executive’s proposed 10 percent property tax hike by more than half. I’m grateful to my Council colleagues who brought new and unique perspectives to the table and shared a commitment to transparency and oversight every step of the way.”

Maryland

Governor Moore Signs Executive Order Doubling Maryland’s Energy Conservation Goal Through State Government Greenhouse Gas Reductions

By Patrick Herron

Published May 18, 2023 at 8:40PM

“This administration is taking unprecedented action to address climate change and our state agencies will lead the way,” said Gov. Moore. “Achieving more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals is a means to promote the health and wellness of Marylanders not only for tomorrow, but for generations to come.”

The order directs the Maryland Green Building Council to update the High-Performance Green Building Program to ensure that all new buildings and major renovations that are subject to the program align with Maryland’s goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. To achieve the goal, the order also directs the Maryland Department of General Services to identify the potential for energy-saving performance contracts at state-owned facilities and buildings with the highest energy use per square foot and greatest greenhouse gas emissions.