Silver Spring Days Inn Homicide: 2 Suspects Arrested

SILVER SPRING, MD — Two people have been charged in the fatal stabbing and assault of a 24-year-old man at the Days Inn in Silver Spring Sunday, police said.

At about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, police were called to the Days Inn at 8040 13th Street for a disturbance in the parking lot. First responders located the victim — Sulaiman Jalloh of Bowie — in his hotel room suffering from life-threatening trauma to his body, police said. Jalloh was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Witnesses reported that Jalloh was assaulted by a group of suspects in the parking lot. Ruben Ortiz, 20, of Adelphi and Shanee Collette Cox, 19, of Wheaton have each been charged with first degree murder and armed robbery, police said.

Investigation revealed that Jalloh was with a small group of friends when he was approached by Ortiz and Cox at the Silver Spring Metro station Saturday, police said. Ortiz and Cox offered to sell Jalloh marijuana, and they agreed to meet in front of the Days Inn for the transaction.

The two groups met just after 11 p.m., but instead of purchasing marijuana from Ortiz and Cox, Jalloh’s group robbed Ortiz of cash and his shoes, police said.

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Later, Ortiz and a small group of subjects went to Jalloh’s Days Inn room and demanded that the shoes and cash taken in the robbery be returned. Cash and shoes were returned to Ortiz and the group left, police said.

Just before 2:30 a.m., Jalloh left his room and walked to the parking lot. There he was assaulted by a group of subjects including Ortiz and Cox. Jalloh was beaten, stabbed, and robbed. After the assault, he went back to his room where police and Fire and Rescue personnel were called. Jalloh was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Ortiz and Cox are being held in the Montgomery County Detention Center without bond. Bond review for each of them is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday in Rockville District Court.

Major Crimes Division detectives continue work toward identifying additional suspects in this case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5070. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest in this case.

Photos: Montgomery County Police Department