In a case that has drawn considerable attention for its gravity, Raphael Mayorga was found not guilty of attempted murder in connection with an incident where Montgomery County Police Sgt. Patrick Kepp was struck and severely injured. The jury instead convicted Mayorga on 13 out of 18 charges, which include second-degree assault and multiple counts of fleeing and evading the police, as reported by multiple outlets.
The encounter that led to Sgt. Kepp's catastrophic injuries occurred in October 2023, when he was laying down stop sticks in an attempt to put an end to Mayorga's reckless driving on I-270. Mayorga, who was driving more than 100 mph, hit Kepp, resulting in the officer losing both of his legs. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich expressed profound disappointment in the verdict, stating, "Senseless incidents like this should not occur in our County or anywhere," per a statement following the trial's conclusion, WTOP reported.
Although prosecutors argued that Mayorga's actions were premeditated, his defense successfully contended they were reckless yet not intentional. WUSA9 detailed a portion of the trial's content, including Mayorga's claim of attempting to swerve away from Kepp, highlighting the complexity of the events that led to the jury's decision.
During the trial, it was also noted that Mayorga and Sgt. Kepp had previously interacted, particularly as Kepp pursued Mayorga for traffic safety violations. Prosecutors cited Mayorga's history of baiting police into chases, as outlined in a FOX 5 DC article. Despite the verdict, Sgt. Kepp's experience has not been in vain. His advocacy efforts helped push through the 'Sgt. Patrick Kepp Act,' aiming to impose stiffer penalties for significant speeding infractions in Maryland.
Mayorga faces a substantial sentence behind bars, with a potential combined sentence of more than 28 years. Sentencing is set for August 27.
