MCPD: Four Arrested in Connection with Piney Branch Homicide

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division have arrested 19-year-old Junior Francisco Del-Cid, 23-year-old Elmer Lopez-Cortez, 24-year-old Jonathan Adonys Leon-Chacon and 18-year-old Elvin Manuel Guzman-Machato in connection with a Wednesday, November 9, 2022 homicide that occurred in the 100 block of Colony Road in Piney Branch.      On November 9, 2022, at approximately 3:58 a.m., 3rd district officers responded to the location for the report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers initially located three adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. Two males were taken to area hospitals, in serious but stable condition.

The third male, later identified as Willians Anderson Alberto Cruz, was found in a wooded area towards the back of 100 block of Colony Road suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Montgomery County Police Officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel immediately performed life-saving measures, however Alberto Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene.      A fourth male victim was located uninjured at the scene.

Through the course of their investigation, detectives were able to identify Del-Cid of Takoma Park, Lopez- Cortez of Silver Spring, Leon-Chacon of Silver Spring and Guzman-Machato of Silver Spring as suspects.    On Thursday, December 1, 2022, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Leon-Chacon charging him with accessory after the fact for murder in the first-degree and three counts of accessory after the fact for attempted first-degree murder.

On Friday, December 2, 2022, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Del-Cid and Lopez-Cortez charging them with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and the use of a firearm in a crime of violence.

On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Guzman Machato charging him with accessory after the fact for murder in the first-degree and three counts of accessory after the fact for attempted first degree murder.  All suspects are currently being held in custody.  This is an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives from the Major Crimes Division are asking anyone who has information about this homicide to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070 or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous.

This investigation was a coordinated effort of the Montgomery County Police Homicide Section and the Criminal Street Gang Unit under the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN).  Governor Larry Hogan launched MCIN in 2017 and provides grant funding and strategic support through his office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services to MCIN member sites to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations through inter-agency collaboration and data sharing to make Maryland safer. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services funded this project under subaward number, MCIN-2023-0012. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any Maryland State office or agency.

Elvin Guzman Machato (Original Image)

Junior Francisco Del Cid (Original Image)

Jonathan Leon Chacon (Original Image)

Elmer Lopez Cortez (Original Image)