Germantown Teen Murders: Police Need Help Finding Suspects

MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, MD — There's been no information released about a suspect or motive involved in the murder of two Germantown students, who were killed just one day before they were set to graduate Northwest High School.

Shadi Adi Najjar, 17, of Breezedale Lane in Germantown, and Artem S. Ziberov, 18, of Flag Harbor Drive in Germantown were gunned down while sitting in a car in Montgomery Village Monday, June 5, police said.

Police said they're collecting forensic evidence and processing information. They've interviewed over 100 people, not counting the people who have called in. At this time, police believe there was some kind of connection between the victims and the suspects based on past experience, according to Montgomery Community Media.

See Related: 2 Germantown Teens Shot Night Before Graduation: Update

“This was a very personal act,” said Captain Darren Francke, the director of the Montgomery County Police Department’s Major Crimes Division.

Francke said potential tipsters will be treated well since they're so crucial to the case. Francke said police can offer resources and help to those who offer information.

“Our hope is that someone knows something, maybe they are a little afraid right now, maybe they are not quite sure what to do. Our message is very simple. Come to us. Let us help you. Give us the information we need to find the people responsible for this,” said Francke. “This was a heinous crime, a brazen crime, and we need the public’s help.”

At 10:46 p.m. that night, 911 dispatchers received a call from a resident reporting the sounds of shots fired in the 8200 block of Gallery Court. When police officers arrived they found the two males inside a vehicle that was parked on Gallery Court. Both victims appeared to be suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and died from their injuries at the scene.

Shadi Adi Najjar's father, Adi Najjar, told WTOP that Montgomery County Police detectives came to his house at 4:30 a.m. and told him that his son was shot.

“I need an answer; I need to know who killed my boy. Why?” Najjar said. “That’s what I am waiting for — for someone who has the courage, the guts, no fear to come forward to tell us why and who did this to him."

There is a $20,000 reward for information about the case.

“We will do whatever we can to protect them to close this case,” Francke said of tipsters. “They can take their chances that they know something and go silent or they can take their chances and come speak to us. Do the right thing and let us take these people off the street.”

If you have information about this case, call the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5070.

Patch File Photo