Arrest Made in Murder Along Trail in Briggs Chaney

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SILVER SPRING, MD — Murder charges have been filed in the shooting death of a Washington, D.C., man whose body was found on a trail in the Briggs Chaney area, authorities said.

Sheldon Williams, 20, of the 2000 block of Naylor Road in Southeast Washington, D.C., died March 11 from a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

On Thursday, Montgomery County Police said they have arrested Mouctar Sylla, 27, of the 13800 block of Castle Boulevard in Silver Spring, for Williams’ murder.

Sylla has been charged with second-degree murder, the use of a firearm in the commission of a murder, illegal possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) with the intent to distribute it.

Montgomery County Police received a 911 call on March 11 reporting shots fired in the 13800 block of Castle Boulevard. Officers who responded found no evidence of a crime.

A passerby saw Williams lying on the trail in the 13800 block of Castle Boulevard just before midnight that day.

Detectives say Williams went to Sylla’s apartment to buy marijuana; they are still sorting out what led up to the moment when Sylla shot allegedly shot Williams.

On Wednesday, investigators searched Sylla’s apartment, where they reportedly found items used to distribute drugs, including a digital scale, plastic bags, bags of marijuana labeled for sale, and about $11,690 in cash.

Sylla was then arrested and was taken to the Central Processing Unit. He is being held on a $300,000 bond.

»Photo of suspect Mouctar Sylla, courtesy of Montgomery County Police