Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department’s 3rd District have arrested two 18-year-olds and one 19-year-old with possession of a handgun in the downtown Silver Spring area, according to an MCPD press release.
On Thursday, October 29, at approximately 8:44 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the Veterans Plaza area for the report of a shooting, after receiving multiple calls with a description of three suspects fleeing the area. Emanuel Leyton Picon (age 19) of Bladensburg, MD, Jason Baiza (age 18) of Washington, DC, and Azriel Echavarria (age 18) of Washington, DC were arrested and charged with possession of a handgun:
Officers from the 3rd District Special Assignment Team responded to the area and observed a group of three subjects matching the physical and clothing description provided by the Emergency Communication Center (ECC) fleeing into the Ellsworth Parking Garage. Other 3rd District officers also responded to the area the assist. When a uniformed officer tried to stop the three subjects, they fled from the officer on foot. After a short foot pursuit, all three subjects were apprehended in the area of Spring Street and Cameron Street. Echavarria was in possession of a handgun. A second handgun was located along the path Leyton Picon and Baiza ran and next to Leyton Picon. Suspected controlled dangerous substances were located on Echavarria and Leyton Picon as well.
Detectives from the 3rd District Investigative Section and the Firearms Investigative Section responded to the scene to assist with the investigation. The investigation determined that all three subjects were prohibited from possessing a handgun due to prior criminal convictions.
Photo courtesy Montgomery County Police Department