Police Investigate Silver Spring Stabbing

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294   240-773-5030
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2008	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Police Investigate Silver Spring Stabbing

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police 3rd District are investigating a stabbing that occurred on June 22.

On Sunday, June 22, at approximately 5:35 a.m., officers from the 3rd District responded to a call for a stabbing that had just occurred in the 1000 block of Ruatan Street in Silver Spring. Officers arrived and located Vicente Moreno, age 28, of the 1000 block of Ruatan Street in Silver Spring sitting on the steps of his apartment building.

Officers observed that Moreno was bleeding. As officers began to ask questions about Moreno’s injuries, he became upset and brandished a large kitchen knife, threatening officers. Moreno pleaded with officers to take his life. Two officers deployed their department-issued tasers to safely subdue Moreno. Officers then entered his apartment where they found a 28-year-old man suffering from multiple stab wounds.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was one of Moreno’s roommates. The victim advised officers that as he walked out of his bedroom, he was attacked by Moreno for unknown reasons. The victim was able to escape the attack by locking himself in the bathroom. Officers determined that Moreno’s wounds were self-inflicted. The victim and Moreno were transported to the Washington Hospital Center’s Medstar Trauma Unit for treatment of their non-life-threatening injuries.

The victim was treated and released. Moreno was treated and taken to Saint Elizabeths Hospital for a mental evaluation. Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Moreno charging him with: first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure. Moreno is currently being held in the DC Jail awaiting extradition to Montgomery County.

1000 Block of Ruatan Street in Silver Spring