A man was punched in the face and then shot at while driving away during a violent confrontation in Wheaton, and Montgomery County police still haven't identified the shooter more than two months later. Newly released surveillance video shows the gunman firing into a busy intersection as other vehicles pass by, prompting investigators to renew their appeal for the public's help.
According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, the incident began a little after 2 a.m. on August 9, 2026, when unknown suspects approached a man who had just gotten into his parked car, as detailed by Montgomery County Police. The initial interaction happened near Georgia and Ennalls avenues, and one of the suspects punched the victim in the face, causing him to drive away, per mocoshow.com, which reported the victim had been parked in the 11300 block of Georgia Avenue at approximately 2:09 a.m. when the suspects approached him.
The confrontation didn't end there. A couple of blocks away, near University Boulevard West and Elkin Street, a suspect pointed and fired a firearm at the victim's vehicle, striking it, according to the same mocoshow.com report. Surveillance footage released by police shows people driving by as the suspect opens fire, with smoke visible coming from the gun, and shows three suspects walking away from the scene afterward.
Restaurant Owner Says the Violence Hits Close to Home
Maria Peredo, owner of Kantutas restaurant, says her business sits right next to where the shooting occurred, and that the incident and the broader pattern of crime in the area concern her deeply, as reported by FOX 5 DC. Peredo told the outlet that crime in the area has become a major problem, and she believes it has caused her business to suffer, saying customers are scared and that business has declined.
Detectives from the department's 4th District Investigative Section have released images of the suspects and are asking anyone with information to come forward, the mocoshow.com report notes. Montgomery County investigators are seeking the public's help solving the first-degree assault case, and no suspect has been identified or arrested as of the latest update.
How to Submit a Tip
The Montgomery County Police Department is asking anyone with information about the suspects or the broader crime concerns in the area to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, which accepts tips through its website at www.p3tips.com or by phone at 1-866-411-8477. Tips may remain anonymous, and information leading to an arrest could qualify for a reward ranging from $250 to $10,000, according to the county's announcement.
Detectives have separately pointed callers with information about the assault to the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070, according to police. The case remains open as investigators work to identify everyone involved in the early-morning confrontation that turned from a punch thrown in a parking lot into gunfire at a busy Wheaton intersection.
