Montgomery Teen Shot Dead Days Before Heading To College

SILVER SPRING, MD — An 18-year-old man was shot dead in his backyard on Saturday — just days before heading to college, according to Montgomery County Police.

Shortly after 3:30 a.m., police responded to a report of a shooting that had just occurred in the 14100 block of Angelton Terrace in the Fairfield area. Authorities say officers found Damion Callery, Jr. at his home.

"He's my junior. I named him after me, and now he's gone," his dad, Damion Callery, told WUSA 9.

Detectives determined that Callery Jr. was shot after encountering an armed suspect or suspects in the backyard of his home. His body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore where an autopsy will be conducted to determine his cause of death.

Callery Jr. graduated from Paint Branch High School in 2019. The school's athletics department put out a statement about the student's death on Twitter.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Callery family! Please join together to remember the life of Damion “Damo” Callery! Panthers continue to support each other! #PantherStrong #RIPDamo
— PB Athletics (@pbhs_sports) August 18, 2019

According to Callery Jr.'s Facebook page, he was heading to Bowie State University in the fall.

Detectives are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. To be eligible for a reward, tipsters can call the county's Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of this suspect(s). Tipsters can remain anonymous.