DC Teens Charged With Attempted Murder Of Police Officer In Bethesda

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Three 16-year-old boys were arrested early Thursday morning in the area of Wisconsin Avenue and Interstate 495 in Montgomery County on charges of attempted murder, first degree assault and first-degree burglary, police said.

The three boys, all from Washington, D.C., were connected to a string of residential robberies, including a June 21 burglary in the 5300 block of Brookeway Drive, according to the Montgomery County Police Department. The three boys are being charged as adults.

In the June 21 burglary, surveillance footage showed four suspects entering a residence and stealing a GMC Yukon SUV, police said.

On Thursday morning, at around 1:20 a.m., Montgomery County Police officers went to the 5000 block of Johnson Avenue in North Bethesda for the report of an attempted burglary in progress.

Police officers saw a BMW SUV, matching a previous burglary suspect vehicle from June 21, leaving the area and started following the SUV. The SUV then came to an abrupt stop, causing an officer to swerve to avoid hitting it, police said.

At that time, the officer heard three gunshots. The vehicle then passed the officer, firing one last shot, police said. The officer’s vehicle was damaged from the gunshots.

The suspects fled again, and police continued to chase the SUV. The suspects lost control of the SUV in the area of Wisconsin Avenue and I-495.

Two suspects were immediately taken into custody following the collision. A search by Montgomery County Police K-9 and a Prince George’s County Police helicopter helped to locate a third suspect, who was taken into custody, according to police.

The teen suspects were taken to the Montgomery County Police Department’s 2nd District Station to be interviewed.

Montgomery County Police identifed the teenagers as Maynor Josue Bonilla-Flores, 16, of Northeast D.C., Jason Benitez-Umanzor, 16, of Northwest D.C., and Brad Roca, 16, of Northwest D.C.