Suicide Cause Of Gaithersburg Condo Explosion, Victim's Body Found

GAITHERSBURG, MD — An explosion that caused a massive fire at a Gaithersburg apartment complex Wednesday, killing one and injuring 14 others, was caused by suicide, Montgomery County authorities said Friday.

On Thursday, a body was found in the rubble at Potomac Oaks Condominiums, located in the 800 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard. The day prior, fire crews were called to the complex after an explosion ignited a fire that caused damage to multiple buildings.

Montgomery County police confirmed the body found Thursday was 36-year-old Juan Pablo Marshall Quizon. According to police chief Marcus Jones, authorities found a suicide note written by Quizon. Witness statements and other evidence also indicated Quizon was suicidal, Jones said.

"At this moment, we have no information to believe that Mr. Quizon intended for other people to be injured or harmed," Jones said during a Friday news conference.

Authorities are still working to determine what caused the explosion, which happened around 8:40 a.m. Wednesday.

By Thursday morning, the number of people injured in the explosion increased to 14, Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said. Ten people were taken to the hospital, two of whom were originally treated for serious injuries. The remaining eight people — four adults and four children, including a 4-month-old baby — were treated for minor injuries.

Quizon's body was sent to the medical examiner's office in Baltimore for identification, police said. The medical examiner determined he died by smoke inhalation and burn injuries, according to authorities.

Quizon was reported missing Wednesday night, Jones said; however, those who made the report didn't know he was a resident of Potomac Oaks.

Fire and rescue crews on Friday finished removing debris caused by the explosion, Goldstein said. Residents were allowed to return to the building with an escort to retrieve their belongings.

At the request of Montgomery County, the non-profit organization Making Home Possible is collecting financial donations to help families affected by the explosion. Learn more or donate here.

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, on behalf of the City Council, issued a statement Friday about the explosion and fire:

"The Gaithersburg City Council and I, along with the entire Gaithersburg community, are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred on November 16 at the Potomac Oaks condominium complex that resulted in multiple injuries and displaced residents. Our thoughts are with our residents and their families who have been affected by this devastating event.

"We are profoundly grateful to Montgomery County Fire & Rescue, the Montgomery County Police Department and the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security — and to our own Gaithersburg Police Department — for their life-saving rescue efforts. As the investigation is ongoing, we have every faith that our County partners and first responders will determine exactly what happened.

"We appreciate the support of the Department of Health and Human Services in assisting our residents who have been displaced. A special thanks to the American Red Cross for its efforts setting up a temporary shelter at our Activity Center at Bohrer Park. We also extend special thanks to our Gaithersburg Parks, Recreation and Culture and Animal Control staff as well as Montgomery County Animal Services for their assistance.

"Finally, we’d like to thank the numerous residents, community organizations, and restaurants who have made donations, and continue to offer more. One of the many reasons this is such a wonderful community is that, when times are tough, we come together help each other through it.

"The City of Gaithersburg will do everything in our power to ensure that residents affected by this tragic event receive the care and support that they need and deserve," Ashman said.

Help For Those Considering Suicide

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources available to help.

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available 24 hours a day, at 988. Its website offers services including a live chat.