East County Archives - Page 69 of 93

Statement of Charges For Torrey Moore; Man Accused of Killing Shell Station Employee and 8-Month Pregnant Woman in White Oak

Published December 23, 2022 at 12:43PM

Statement of Charges, per the Montgomery County State’s Attorney: “On 12/8/22 at 3:00 PM, Montgomery County Police responded to a convenience store at the Shell Gas station located at 11150 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found the victim, Ayalew Wondimu, a black male with date of birth of 11/6/61, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigation revealed the victim was working inside the store, behind the register when he was shot. Wondimu was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Your affiant (Detective Dimitry Ruvin) reviewed surveillance video from inside and outside the store. The video showed the suspect entering the store at 2:58PM. The suspect selected a soft drink and then approached the victim, who was standing behind the cash register. The suspect appeared to have a conversation with the victim and then picked up several items from on top of the counter and threw them at the victim. The victim picked up a pole and attempted to strike the suspect. The suspect then backed up and produced a handgun and fired at the victim.

Three Elementary Schools Named the Healthiest in MCPS

By MCS Staff

Published December 21, 2022 at 5:34PM

A trifecta of elementary schools has been selected for award prizes for being recognized as the healthiest schools in MCPS—Burtonsville, Glen Haven and S. Christa McAuliffe elementary schools.

The MCPS Districtwide Wellness Committee recently announced the winners of this year’s “MCPS Healthy Schools Award,” an opportunity created with Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. This program celebrates schools that have implemented remarkable initiatives related to one or more of the following areas: advancing core policies related to equity, diversity and inclusion; increasing family and community engagement; bolstering physical education and activity; strengthening social-emotional health, and cultivating staff well-being.

Bourbon Wings and Beer No Longer Taking Over Old Buffalo Wings and Beer Spot in Cloverly

By MCS Staff

Published December 21, 2022 at 5:27PM

In an update from early this past summer, Bourbon, Wings, and Beer (from the owners of Dominic’s Italian Grille in Colesville) told us they hoped to open by the end of August. B.W.B. LLC had a hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) on May 19th at 10am where it was granted its “Class B Beer, Wine, and Liquor License, On Sale Only.” and renovations were ongoing. Recently, signage was removed and ‘for lease’ signs were put up on the restaurant. Today we received confirmation that the new restaurant will not be opening.

Back in January, we let you know that Buffalo Wings and Beer had closed in the Cloverly Village Center (15412 New Hamphire Ave). In February we let you know that the plan was for the restaurant to once again open, after being taken over by the owners of Dominic’s Italian Grille in Colesville. The BWB name was to remain with the acronym having a slightly different meaning as the restaurant was to be named Bourbon, Wings, and Beer. A reason why plans fell through was not provided.

Detectives From Special Investigations Unit are Asking For Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing 16-Year Old

By Patrick Herron

Published December 20, 2022 at 11:39AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old from White Oak.

Loc Nguyen was last seen on Friday, December 16, 2022, at approximately 7:00 p.m., in the 11500 block of Stewart Lane. Nguyen is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Police and family are concerned for his welfare.

Small Dog Knocks Over Sage to Start Small Fire on Monday Afternoon

By MCS Staff

Published December 20, 2022 at 9:06AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a fire at the Waterford Towers apartment complex on the 14000 block of Castle Blvd in Burtonsville on Monday at approximately 3:30pm, according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The fire was on the second floor of the complex with smoke on several floors causing a partial evacuation of the building. The fire is believed to have been started when a small dog knocked over smoldering sage that was not completely extinguished off of a table, igniting nearby combustibles. The fire was contained to the one apartment and there were no injuries (including the dog), but there were $50k in damages and the family living in the apartment is currently displaced.

MCPD: Detectives Investigate Shed Burglary in Burtonsville

By Patrick Herron

Published December 19, 2022 at 5:25PM

At approximately 8:45 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the 14900 block of Old Columbia Pike for the report of a burglary that occurred earlier. The investigation by detectives determined that an unknown suspect entered the victim’s vehicle but did not take anything. Then, the suspect entered the victim’s shed and stole power tools.

Man Accused of Killing Shell Station Employee and 8-Month Pregnant Woman Ruled Not Competent to Stand Trial

By Patrick Herron

Published December 19, 2022 at 4:28PM

Per the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office: Today in the District Court in Rockville for Montgomery County, MD, defendant, Torrey Moore, appeared before the Honorable Amy Bills for a bond hearing for the charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime for the death of Ayalew Wondimu that was continued from December 15th for a court diagnostic (mental evaluation). After reviewing the report by the Office of Court-Ordered Evaluations and Placements (OCEP) within the Department of Health (MDH), Judge Bills ruled Moore is not competent to stand trial and scheduled a date for a competency hearing on June 13th, 2023. She also scheduled a preliminary hearing for January 6th, 2023.

Last week, State’s Attorney John McCarthy announced Moore is also being charged in the death of a woman and her unborn child. Once the Department of Corrections transports Moore to the Central Processing Unit to be arraigned on those charges he will have an additional bond hearing. Mr. McCarthy spoke with reporters following today’s hearing and that can be seen here.

Police Identify Body of 38-Week Pregnant Woman Discovered in White Oak Apartment

By Patrick Herron

Published December 15, 2022 at 5:28PM

Officers had obtained a search warrant for Moore’s apartment, located at 11235 Oak Leaf Drive, following the shooting death of 61-year-old Ayalew Wondimu, an employee of the Dash In Convenience Store, located in the 11100 block of New Hampshire Ave. Middleton was found in the bedroom, in an advanced stage of decomposition and transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) for autopsy. The OCME determined that Middleton was approximately 38-weeks pregnant at the time of her death and that the fetus, a boy, would have lived had Middleton delivered at that time. The autopsy also revealed that Middleton had been shot multiple times.

MCFRS Respond to Crash on Old Columbia Pike Thursday Afternoon

By MCS Staff

Published December 15, 2022 at 3:15PM | Updated December 15, 2022 at 4:20PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a crash on the 13700 block of Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville at approximately 1pm, according to MCFRS Lieutenant Franco Martinez. According to Martinez a person was extracted fro the vehicle, but there is no word on any possible injuries.

13700 BLK of old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville for a vehicle collision with one trapped. PE715, RS715, M715 & BC701. Person extracted from the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/tZNNirgoE0

Last Remaining Office Depot in MoCo to Close

By Patrick Herron

Published December 15, 2022 at 9:14AM | Updated December 15, 2022 at 10:55AM

Office Depot at 11130 New Hampshire Ave in White Oak has announced it is closing. A representative from the store tells us that it will be closing “sometime in January”. Office Depot’s closest competitor Staples has MoCo locations in Chevy Chase, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, and Silver Spring.

The Office Depot that was located at 15790 Shady Grove Road in Gaithersburg closed back in November of 2020 and is the site of the upcoming Amazon Fresh, which will be opening in early 2023, according to signage on the door (exact date still not available). No word yet on what could be replacing the White Oak location.

Burtonsville Crossing Update

By MCS Staff

Published December 14, 2022 at 4:20PM

Montgomery Planning staff has recommended the approval (with conditions) of a site plan that contains an amendment to allow for redeveloping the Burtonsville Shopping Center by demolishing 7,600 square feet of existing retail uses and relocating that retail square footage into two new pad sites with drive- thrus including improvements to open space, landscaping, lighting, and pedestrian circulation. In June it was announced that a lease has been signed by the Phoenix-based company Sprouts Farmers Market in what is seen as the first critical step to kick start the revitalization of a once thriving retail area. It will also be the grocery chain’s first store in Montgomery County. “We are excited to partner with Sprouts on bringing a unique grocery experience to Burtonsville,” said David Germakian, Managing Director, EDENS. Additional information below, courtesy of Montgomery Planning:

The Applicant proposes to redevelop 6.90 acres of the existing shopping center by demolishing a 7,600 square foot area in the center of the existing shopping center to create a community gathering space (seen in our feature photo). This 7,600 square feet of demolished commercial space in the center of the existing shopping center will be reallocated to two new free standing pad sites with new drive-thru accessory uses on the front of the Property for Retail/Service Establishment or Restaurant uses. Separately from this Site Plan Amendment, the Applicant intends to make façade improvements to the existing buildings to enhance the aesthetics of the shopping center. These interim improvements are not subject to review as part of this Site Plan because they are outside the boundary of the amendment area. Additionally, Site Plan 819851040 approved in 1985 did not include any approved architectural drawings or conditions relating to architectural or building design. As a result, moving forward with façade and exterior building improvements is not a violation of any previous approval.