Two men have been charged in connection with two tragic shootings that claimed the lives of two teenagers in Silver Spring’s Long Branch neighborhood, prompting a Montgomery County District Court judge to order them held without bond on Monday.
Jhony Steve Rosales-Castillo, 20, and Juan Carlos Gutierrez-Hernandez, 18, both residents of Silver Spring, were arrested on Saturday following a search warrant executed at their home on 11th Avenue. Authorities recovered two semiautomatic handguns during the search, according to charging documents.
The shootings occurred on Aug. 19 and Sep. 5, resulting in the deaths of Jaril Verde Murillo, 17, and Charly Blayner Vail Lucas, also 17, in separate incidents. Both victims were connected to the community, with Verde Murillo lacking a fixed address, while Vail Lucas was a Silver Spring resident.
The first incident took place shortly before midnight on Aug. 19 in the 700 block of University Boulevard East, where county officers responded to reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers located Verde Murillo suffering from a gunshot wound and he was later pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts by emergency responders.
According to the investigative documents, before Verde Murillo was shot, he and two friends had been in a nearby 7-Eleven purchasing food when they encountered the two suspects who were allegedly “mean mugging” them. Following this encounter, the suspects exited the store, and moments later, Verde Murillo and his friends spotted them again. It was then that gunfire erupted, resulting in Verde Murillo being shot.
On September 5, another shooting occurred around 9:45 p.m. near Long Branch Local Park, which is located close to the previous crime scene. Officers responding to reports of shots fired found Vail Lucas and a 21-year-old man, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Lucas was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other victim was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
The police managed to gather surveillance footage from the area that revealed two suspects fleeing the scene. This evidence led to the issuance of a search warrant for the residence of Rosales-Castillo and Gutierrez-Hernandez, which was executed in the early hours of September 6.
During the search, investigators discovered two semiautomatic handguns, one found in each suspect’s bedroom. Since both men are under 21 years old, they were charged with possession of a firearm by a minor in addition to two counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
After their arrest, both suspects were taken to the Montgomery County Department of Police Headquarters for questioning. Charging documents indicate that Rosales-Castillo confessed to participating in both shootings and acknowledged a previous dispute with the victims.
In his statement, Rosales-Castillo recalled being at the 7-Eleven when he and Gutierrez-Hernandez waited nearby for Verde Murillo and exited the store. He further admitted to firing at the group before fleeing the scene. Gutierrez-Hernandez also allegedly confessed to witnessing Rosales-Castillo shoot at the victims during both incidents and later fleeing together.
Vail Lucas’ family has expressed their grief and desire for justice in light of their devastating loss. His father, who opted to remain anonymous, articulated the family’s anguish, stating they simply seek justice for their son, who had lived in the United States for five years with his family.
As the community mourns these losses, two separate GoFundMe campaigns have been initiated for both teenagers. One campaign for Verde Murillo aims to raise funds for transporting his body back to Honduras, while the campaign for Vail Lucas seeks assistance for his parents to send him back to Guatemala.
The suspects, Rosales-Castillo and Gutierrez-Hernandez, are currently being represented by public defenders. A spokesperson for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender did not provide comments regarding their representation when inquiries were made.
Both men are scheduled to appear in the District Court in Rockville for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. on October 3. This ongoing case has drawn attention from the local community and media outlets, as families and friends of the victims grapple with the reality of their untimely deaths and call for accountability in the judicial system.
In an emotional interview with Telemundo 44, the mother of Vail Lucas lamented the surreal nature of losing a child to violence. Living in a country where they sought safety, the tragedy has left the family in shock and grief, emphasizing the urgent need to address violence within communities.
As investigations continue into the fatal shootings, the impacted families remain in profound mourning, and community members are left questioning the alarming trend of violence affecting their neighborhoods.
image source from：bethesdamagazine
