Marijuana Growing Inside Gaithersburg Home Led to Murder: Police

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A Gaithersburg man who was shot and killed by a masked burglar in his home last month was targeted because of the marijuana growing operation in the house, authorities say, and two suspects have been arrested.

Ronald Michael Lone III, 23, of the 7900 block of Muncaster Mill Road in Gaithersburg, was shot and killed Oct. 24 in his home. Investigators say two masked suspects broke into the home to steal marijuana being grown there and one of the burglars shot Lone.

Police officers found Lone on the back deck of the home suffering from gunshot wounds; he died from his injuries before he could be taken to a hospital.

Montgomery County Police have charged Mohammed Sirleaf, 20, of the 17700 block of Towne Crest Drive in Gaithersburg, for Lone's death. The second accused burglar — Timario Makaveli Gregg, 19, of the 13800 block of Castle Boulevard in Silver Spring — has been charged with possession of firearm by a minor.

The home where Lone and his family lived contained a marijuana growing operation, according to police, and Sirleaf and Gregg planned to steal marijuana when Lone was shot. A witness who was in the home when the shooting happened told police he recognized one of the suspects as a former student at Magruder High School in Rockville, but the witness didn't know the suspect’s name. With help from the school resource officer assigned to Magruder High School, the witness identified Sirleaf as a suspect involved in the homicide. The witness said Sirleaf had been at the home before to smoke marijuana.

Other people with information the homicide said Gregg may have been at the home with Sirleaf at the time of the shooting. On Nov. 3, Gregg posted a photograph on one of his social media accounts that appeared to show him with a handgun tucked inside his waistband, police said.

On Nov. 14, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Mohammed Sirleaf charging him first-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. Sirleaf was arrested on Nov. 16 and taken to the Central Processing Unit, where he is being held without bond.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.
For those who wish to remain anonymous, tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

»Photos of Mohammed Sirleaf and Timario Gregg, courtesy of Montgomery County Police