Montgomery County Police Arrest Man After Attempted Machete Assaults at Shopping Center

The suspect ran through a parking lot hitting parked cars with the weapon after assaulting victims.Gaithersburg, MD – Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District have arrested 24-year-old Maikol Darinson Vicente Gomez, of Silver Spring, for attempting to assault three random people with a machete.On Sunday, January 5, 2025,  at approximately 5:42 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the area of Broadbirch Drive and Tech Road for the reports of a male armed with a machete.When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect ran away through the parking lot of the shopping center and struck parked vehicles with the machete. Officers chased the suspect who shortly after tripped and fell, causing him to lose the machete. Officers took him into custody and secured the machete.Officers spoke with three victims who stated that the suspect attempted to assault them with the machete for no apparent reason near the shopping center. The victims were able to get away from the suspect and escape to a secured location.The suspect was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he was charged with three counts of first-degree assault and second-degree assault, two counts of vandalism, resisting arrest and related charges. He is being held without bond.