Two Men Arrested In Connection With Taco Bell Shooting

Suspects charged with attempted murder and assault.(Photos courtesy Montgomery County Police)Gaithersburg, MD  – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section have arrested and charged 18-year-old Souleymane Traore with attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault and 19-year-old Maximus Jean Jerome with multiple counts of second-degree assault.On Sunday, June 23, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to a Taco Bell in the 8600 block of Colesville Road for the report of a shooting.The investigation by detectives has revealed that three male victims were confronted inside the restaurant by Traore and Jerome, leading to a physical altercation. After Traore and Jerome exited the restaurant, Traore went back inside and held the victims at gunpoint. Moments later, when the brother of one of the victims arrived at the location and attempted to intervene, Traore put the handgun to the head of the victim’s brother and fired one round, causing a graze wound to his head. Traore and Jerome then left the scene.The shooting victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.On Thursday, June 27, detectives identified Traore and Jerome as the two suspects and obtained an arrest warrant against them.On Monday, July 1, Traore and Jerome were arrested, and a search warrant was executed at Traore’s residence, where items of evidentiary value were recovered.Traore and Jerome, of Silver Spring, were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where they are being held without bond.