Attempted Murder Charges Filed in Silver Spring Shooting

A Silver Spring man asked to leave a party following an argument instead pulled out a gun and shot two acquaintances, police say.

Montgomery County Police have arrested and charged Donta Labell Pope, 22, of the 700 block of Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring, with attempted second-degree murder for the Sept. 10 shooting. Police were called about 9:30 that night to the 900 block of University Boulevard East in Silver Spring.

A 25-year-old man and 40-year-old man, each suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, were found at the scene.

Investigators say that Pope, the two victims, and several other acquaintances were socializing in the rear yard of a home on University Boulevard East when an argument began. Pope was asked to leave.

Instead, he removed a handgun from his waistband and shot several times, striking the two victims, police say. He then fled from the home.

After Pope was identified as the suspect, police obtained a warrant for his arrest on Friday. He was arrested Monday by Montgomery County Police officers in Washington, D.C. Pope is in custody in the district awaiting extradition to Montgomery County.

Pope is being charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

»Shooting suspect Donta Pope, courtesy of Montgomery County Police