Drug deal gone bad ends in murder charges against three teens

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Three teens face murder charges following the deadly stabbing of a 33-year-old man in Maryland who was reportedly involved in a drug deal with the accused.

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Two juveniles, aged 16 and 17, and an 18-year-old man were arrested and charged yesterday by detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police, notes a police statement. All three males face charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with the fatal stabbing on Dec. 19 in Bethesda, Md.

Charging documents indicated the teens were trying to rob the man of marijuana, according to Bethesda Magazine.

The police were tipped off on Dec. 20 when a man, reportedly the uncle of one of the accused, contacted officers to report he had information regarding the stabbing death. Later that day, another accused is said to have arrived at the district station and told police he had witnessed the act.

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Citing court documents, WJLA reports that the deadly robbery followed a drug deal gone wrong. The teens reportedly met the man to buy two ounces (56 grams) of weed in an exterior stairwell of a shopping plaza, which contains both Target and a Trader’s Joe stores, in downtown Bethesda. It is alleged the victim was both stabbed in the abdomen and had his throat slit.

Responding police officers discovered the deceased, a 33-year-old man, in a lower-level stairwell. They report the deceased had “trauma to his body,” notes the police press release.

After the accused who visited the police station informed detectives about the other two people who were allegedly involved, “detectives were able to connect the suspects to the homicide and warrants were obtained” for their arrests.

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Per WJLA, police obtained surveillance video that showed the three accused and the victim entering the stairwell, but only the teens running from the scene less than 20 minutes later.

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The police note that upon being picked up and interviewed, the two suspects made admissions regarding their involvement and were charged.

When police approached to arrest the 16-year-old on Dec. 21, WJLA reports that, unsolicited, he told a detective: “Is that dude really dead?”

According to The Washington Post, Montgomery County District Judge Amy Bills said in court, “This was an extremely brutal crime.” Court records indicate all three teens lived in a Bethesda group home, although they don’t detail why.

The police report that all three suspects are being held without bond and that their investigation is continuing.

Recreational cannabis is not legal in Maryland, but “possession or use of less than 10 grams of marijuana is not a criminal offence,” per Peoples Law. That means the amount will not result in arrest, jail time or a criminal record.

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