Police Pursuit Across 2 States Ends With Car Crash, Shots Fired, Charges Filed

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — A Germantown man has been charged with one felony count of eluding police and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving after he was involved in a police pursuit.

Virginia State Police has charged Frederick K. Njihia, 26, following the pursuit Monday that started in Maryland. At approximately 9:41 a.m., Virginia State Police was alerted by Montgomery County Police of a pursuit heading south on I-495 from Maryland into Virginia. After receiving a request to assist Montgomery County Police, Virginia state troopers positioned themselves on I-495 in the area of the American Legion Bridge in an effort to head off the suspect vehicle as it headed into Virginia, according to a news release.

The Montgomery Police Department noted that officers were called to the 11300 block of Hawks Ridge Terrace in Germantown at approximately 9:30 a.m. July 4 for a report of a man shooting a rifle at people. Njihia shot multiple times at a WSSC worker, hitting his vehicle several times, and also shot at a man standing near the truck, according to the department. No one was injured.

Once the Honda Civic crossed into Virginia on I-495, the driver exited onto Route 7 toward Tysons Corner. When the driver made a U-turn on Route 7 at Route 267/Dulles Toll Road, a Virginia State Police trooper rammed the suspect vehicle. The Honda Civic ran off the road, struck the Jersey wall and overturned onto its roof.

Njihia was taken into custody without further incident and was taken to INOVA Fairfax Hospital for treatment of minor injuries he sustained when his vehicle overturned.

The incident remains under investigation.