Montgomery County Police has released additional information about a fatal collision that occurred on Layhill Rd on Monday afternoon.

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Montgomery County Police are investigating a fatal collision that occurred on Layhill Rd on Monday afternoon.

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Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire in the 2300blk of Pondside Ter, off of Long Mead Crossing Dr in Layhill on Monday, December 11. (more…)

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision involving a scooter rider on Saturday, September 30 in Layhill. According to police, “MCPD responded to the area of Bel Pre Road and Layhill Road at approximately 7:44 p.m., for the report of a two-vehicle collision involving a scooter. The adult male driver of the scooter has been transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries. The driver of the striking vehicle remained on scene.”

MCPD posted the following on Twitter at 8:41pm: “TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A traffic collision has eastbound Bel Pre Road closed at Layhill Road. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Expect delays.”

Update – Bel Pre Rd & Layhill Rd, collision, involves scooter rider, @MCFRS_EMIHS transported 1 adult trauma patient w/ LTI, some lanes blocked pic.twitter.com/53z3czr0SK

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) October 1, 2023

Per MCPD: 23-year-old Manuel Alejandro Ayala, of Layhill, has been arrested and charged with a shooting and murder that he allegedly committed on Monday, September 4, 2023.  At approximately 7:54 p.m., 4th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 14200 block of Punch St. for the report of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers located an adult male in the street, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. When officers entered a nearby home, they located 65-year-old Rosa Maria Benitez-Ozuna, of Layhill, deceased. Officers also located the suspect’s mother suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to an area hospital in serious condition.

Officers identified Ayala, who is a resident of the home, as the suspect and took him into custody without incident. Montgomery County Department of Police – homicide detectives responded to the scene. Ayala was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit where he was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and numerous firearm related charges. He is currently awaiting a bond hearing.
Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.

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Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting in the 14200 block of Punch St (off of Layhill Rd near Bel Pre/Bonifant in Layhill/Silver Spring) on Monday, September 4. According to MCPD, “At approximately 7:40 p.m., 4th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 14200 block of Punch St. for the report of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers located an adult male in the street suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital, his condition is unknown at this time. Officers went into a residence and located two females suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. One of the females was pronounced deceased. The other female was transported to an area hospital, her condition is unknown at this time.

An adult male suspect has been taken into custody without incident.  Preliminarily, this is believed to be a domestic related incident. There is no threat to the community.”

Montgomery County Police responded to a call for a shooting in the 14200 block of Punch St (off of Layhill Rd near Bel Pre/Bonifant in Layhill/Silver Spring) on Monday, September 4, around 8pm. Police report that there were injuries sustained and the suspect is in custody. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

MCPD responded to a call for a shooting in the 14200 block of Punch St.

More information will be released when it becomes available. #MCPNews #MCPD pic.twitter.com/Bu20KFBExH

— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) September 5, 2023

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners will host 10 Community Conversations from September through December to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. The first conversation will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14, at the Mid-County Recreation Center in Layhill.

The official address of the Mid-County Recreation center is 2004 Queensguard Road in Silver Spring.

Seven of the 10 conversations will be conducted in English, including one focusing on issues for older residents and another focusing on issues of importance to Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members. For a County first, one of the forums will be conducted in Amharic. Two other non-English language forums will be held, with one in Spanish and another in Chinese. A select number of Community Conversations will be held online so that residents have the option to participate remotely.

The County is in the early stages of formulating the FY25 operating budget. County Executive Elrich is required to submit a recommended budget to the County Council by March 15, 2024. The Council then will have two months to review the budget. It must adopt a final budget no later than June 1. The FY25 operating budget will go into effect on July 1.

“This year, we have increased the number of budget forums from eight to 10 to be even more inclusive,” said County Executive Elrich. “We hold these community conversations to give people a chance to be heard because their voice matters. Their insight helps drive our decisions and our priorities for the next fiscal year. The budget not only reflects the County’s needs and concerns, but our community’s values and goals. I encourage every resident to participate in these conversations because their voice shapes our path forward.”

The Community Conversations are scheduled as follows:

• Mid-County Community Conversation. Thursday, Sept. 14. 7-8:30 p.m. Mid-County Recreation Center (Layhill), Social Hall, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring. Click here to view online.
• Spanish Language Community Conversation. Thursday, Sept. 21. 7-8:30 p.m. Mid-County Recreation Center (Layhill), Social Hall, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring. Click here to view online.
• UpCounty Community Conversation. Tuesday, Sept. 26. 7-8:30 p.m. BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown.
• Bethesda-Chevy Chase Community Conversation. Wednesday, Sept. 27. 7-8:30 p.m. Bethesda – Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, East West Room, Bethesda.
• PTA Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 16. 7-8:30 p.m. Executive Office Building, Cafeteria, 101 Monroe St., Rockville. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Amharic Language Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 18. 7-8:30 p.m. Montgomery College – Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, 7600 Takoma Ave., Takoma Park.
• Silver Spring Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 13. 7-8:30 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Spring Room, Silver Spring.
• East County Community Conversation. Wednesday, Nov. 15. 7-8:30 p.m. Location to be determined. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Seniors Community Conversation. Monday, Dec. 11. 2-3:30 p.m. Leisure World, Clubhouse 1, Crystal Ballroom, 3701 Rossmore Blvd., Silver Spring. Only Leisure World residents may participate in person. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Chinese Language Community Conversation. Date and location to be announced.

The Community Conversations will be televised live on the following cable channels:

• County Cable Montgomery (CCM): Comcast channel 6 HD 996, RCN channel 6 and HD 1056 and Verizon channel 30
• Montgomery College Television (MCTV): Comcast channels 998 & 10, Verizon 10 and RCN 1059 & 10 (Sept. 14 only)
• Montgomery County Public School (MCPS TV): Comcast 34, Comcast HD 998, Verizon 36, RCN 89, RCN HD 1058
• Montgomery Community Media (MCM): Comcast channel 21, HD 995, RCN 21 HD 1055, and Verizon 21
• Montgomery Municipal Channel (MMC): Comcast channel 16 HD 997, RCN 16, Verizon 16
• Takoma Park City TV: Comcast channel 13, RCN channel 13 HD 1060, and Verizon 28 (Sept. 21 and Nov. 13 only)

Montgomery County will provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids or services upon request — with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three business days before the event. For more information, contact Karen Falcon at 240-777-6522 or send a request to [email protected] .

In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.

TTY users can use Maryland Relay 711.

Per MCPD: Several people were injured and transported to area hospitals following an early morning shooting in Layhill. Montgomery County Department of Police 4th District officers responded to the rear of the Sole D’italia restaurant in the Norbeck-Layhill community at approximately 12:15 a.m., after multiple reports of shots being fired.

Officers arrived on scene and found five victims. One of the victims sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries; and the second, third and fourth victims sustained less significant injuries after being shot.  The fifth victim sustained a minor injury as a result of this incident.
Officers provided medical assistance to the victims along with Montgomery County Fire Rescue. In total, three adult females and two adult males were injured.

Investigators learned that there was an argument inside of the restaurant that spilled into the parking lot, where shots were fired. Investigators are working to determine who was involved in the shooting. This is an active investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this shooting is asked to call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-tips (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s) in connection with this shooting. Callers can remain anonymous.

Per Montgomery County Police: Fourth District officers responded to multiple reports of shots fired at approximately 12:15 a.m., followed by multiple reports of people shot to the rear of the Sole D’Italia Restaurant in the Norbeck-Layhill community.

Officers arrived on scene and found four victims with gunshot wounds. Two of the gunshot victims sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries; and the third and fourth victims sustained minor injuries. A fifth gunshot victim was transported by private automobile to an area hospital and was treated for a minor injury.  Officers applied a tourniquet to one of the victims.

This is an active investigation. Investigators learned that there was an argument inside of the restaurant that spilled into the parking lot, where shots were fired. They are sorting out who is involved in the shooting. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire Monday morning around 4:30am on Village Gate Dr in Layhill. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire originated on the exterior of the single-family home’s garage and was likely caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

Smoke alarms alerted the occupants of the home and there were no injuries reported. Four adults and three children have been displaced and damage is estimated to be ~$50K.