Man injured in assault at business in Aspen Hill

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault in Aspen Hill early yesterday evening, August 11, 2026. The assault was reported at a business in the 13600 block of Georgia Avenue at 6:27 PM Tuesday. Officers arriving at the scene found an adult male suffering from unspecified injuries inside the business. Police have not yet identified the specific business, and no description of the suspect(s) has been released.

Suspect arrested in stabbing at restaurant in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police announced today that a suspect in the July 10, 2026 stabbing inside The Angry Jerk, located at 8223 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, has been arrested. Mark Reginald Melton, 34, of no fixed address, repeatedly stabbed the unidentified victim in the men's room at the restaurant at 10:34 PM that night, police allege. Melton was located and arrested in Washington, D.C. by the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Task Force. He was transported to the Montgomery County Central jail, where he is being held without bond. Melton has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and related charges.

Sabrosito Snack Bar gets bigger in Wheaton

When I think of snack bars at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall, the lobby concessions inside the AMC Wheaton Mall 9 comes to mind. But there's a second snack bar in the mall that is growing in success by leaps and bounds. So much so, that it has outgrown its original space. Sabrosito Snack Bar announced today that it has relocated to a larger space in the mall's food court. The snack bar serves hot dogs, Mexican street corn, nachos, and a wide variety of desserts ranging from ice cream to fresas con crema.

Update on Wonder food hall in Burtonsville

Wonder food hall is still very much "wonder construction" at Burtonsville Crossing. But permanent signage has just been installed above its future storefront at 15771 Old Columbia Pike. Inside, it's a different story, as you can see in the sneak peek below. Workers are still in the very early construction stage of forming interior walls within the space.

Police investigate fatal Silver Spring accident

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit are currently investigating a multi-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on July 30, 2026 in Silver Spring. At approximately 9:53 PM, 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel were dispatched to the intersection of University Boulevard East and Colesville Road, following reports of a severe collision. According to preliminary investigation findings, a white 2013 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling westbound on University Boulevard East. For reasons that remain under investigation, the Silverado left its path, striking a guardrail, a curb, two trees, and a utility pole along the left side of the roadway.

Following the impacts, the truck overturned and collided with the rear of two other vehicles—a white Acura RDX and a white Ford Escape—which were stopped at a red light at the intersection of westbound University Boulevard East and Colesville Road. The Chevrolet Silverado driver, 35-year-old Moussa Diarra of Springdale, Maryland, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Silverado sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and was transported to a local area hospital for treatment. Neither the driver of the Acura RDX nor the driver of the Ford Escape reported any injuries.

Police say this remains an active and ongoing investigation, which may take anywhere from several weeks to months to conclude as detectives work to determine the underlying factors that contributed to the crash. They are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has relevant information regarding the collision, to contact the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.

Glenmont traffic stop yields weapons charges

A traffic stop in Glenmont Wednesday afternoon led to weapons charges for two people inside the vehicle. Montgomery County police pulled over a driver in the 12400 block of Georgia Avenue at 5:56 PM Wednesday. In the course of the stop for moving violations, officers discovered two people in the vehicle were in illegal possession of two firearms. Both suspects were arrested.

Buna & Barley opens in Silver Spring

Buna & Barley is now open at 901 Silver Spring Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. A new neighborhood gathering spot and convenience store, it carries Ethiopian specialties and snacks, grab-and-go meals, and a curated selection of beer and wine. Enjoy a freshly-poured cup of Ethiopian coffee while you're there! 

Taiwan's MedVoyage Global chooses Virginia over Maryland for U.S. headquarters

Is Northern Virginia tired of winning yet? No! And fortunately for them, Montgomery County and Maryland elected officials aren't tired of losing. Thus it is that the Taiwanese firm MedVoyage Global has chosen Virginia, not Maryland, for its U.S. headquarters. The MedVoyage HQ will be at 10300 Eaton Place, at the Mason Enterprise Center (MEC) in Fairfax City. MedVoyage is a leading firm in the future of healthcare, using a low-Earth-orbit satellite network to deliver telehealth and pharmacy services to remote areas in 40 countries, to ships at sea, and to over 80 bricks-and-mortar medical centers across the globe, as well as connecting these remote customers with emergency response units.

Now MedVoyage is expanding into the North American healthcare market, and has chosen Northern Virginia as its base to scale up system and sales operations, as well as to navigate federal regulatory red tape. "Over the next two years, the company plans to scale its local workforce with systems engineers, clinical compliance specialists, and commercial sales executives," the Fairfax City Economic Development corporation said in a statement this morning. FCED added that this latest victory "further strengthens Fairfax City’s role within Northern Virginia’s innovation economy."

"Selecting Fairfax City for our U.S. headquarters is a foundational step in our global scaling strategy," MedVoyage Global CEO Nemo Teng said in a statement. "MEC Fairfax offers the ideal soft-landing environment and unparalleled access to the Northern Virginia tech ecosystem, placing us minutes away from critical federal and defense stakeholders such as the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense. This facility allows us to rapidly build strategic U.S. partnerships, access premier regional engineering talent, and deploy our emergency and maritime telehealth solutions across North America."

Anyone familiar with local geography will realize that Montgomery County is also in close proximity to these same federal and defense stakeholders. So, why does Northern Virginia keep winning, and Montgomery County keep losing?

You can look at the most obvious difference, which is the low tax environment of Virginia versus Montgomery County, which weighs down its residents and businesses with the highest total tax and fee burden in the region. But let's again go a step further, and see how once again Northern Virginia's superior infrastructure triumphs over Montgomery County's incomplete master plan highway system and poor airport access.

MedVoyage Global's new U.S. HQ will sit right beside an on-ramp to Interstate 66, and directly adjacent to U.S. Route 50. That will give MedVoyage a straight shot to Dulles International Airport via Route 50, or even faster with tolls via I-66. In contrast, Montgomery County and Maryland elected officials continue to block construction of the long-delayed new Potomac River crossing of I-370 from Gaithersburg to Dulles. 

As much as Northern Virginia enjoys winning, so do corporations that need to make something called profits. Winning is contagious. And winners like to have direct access to the only airport in the region with the frequency and variety of flights to international destinations that international businesspeople require to compete - Dulles International Airport. Thanks to our anti-business, Marxist "leadership," Montgomery County continues to lack that strategic advantage - by choice!!

In another delicious coincidence, did you know that Montgomery County's unfinished master plan highway system would have also extended I-66 access into Bethesda? The unbuilt Northwest Freeway, which would have paralleled Wisconsin Avenue through Bethesda, Friendship Heights and Tenleytown, would have crossed the Potomac on the also-unbuilt Three Sisters Bridge and (surprise!) also-unbuilt I-266 near Georgetown University. And you wonder where Montgomery County got all that land for tiny parks and big parking garages between Wisconsin Avenue and the Town of Chevy Chase!

By learning to love losing.

Prestige Auto Body property for sale in Silver Spring

The property currently home to Prestige Auto Body at 928 and 934 Philadelphia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring is being marketed for sale. It consists of two parcels that total 19,380-square-feet, and two buildings. The online sale listing suggests the portfolio of properties is ideal for continued auto body shop use, or as a future infill redevelopment opportunity. It does not disclose the asking price, however.

Victim stabbed in Aspen Hill robbery

Montgomery County criminals are increasingly carrying knives and "hard objects" these days, as the victim of an armed robbery in Aspen Hill discovered Saturday morning. Waiting at a bus stop near the intersection of Bel Pre and Grand Pre Roads at 5:51 AM, the victim was approached by two suspects. According to County police, they proceeded to "search him." When the victim attempted to defend himself, police say, he was stabbed. Police have not released a description of the suspects, nor an update on the victim's condition, at this time.

Montgomery County Council seeks to remove neighborhood veto power on "benefit performances"

The Montgomery County Council is proposing to strip residents of their existing veto power over "benefit performances" staged in their residential neighborhoods. Currently, entities and organizations - with a few exceptions, such as fire departments and religious institutions - who propose to hold a live music event, carnival, festival, or other performance to raise charitable funds must obtain consent from 75% of residents whose homes are within 600 feet of the performance site. Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-11: Temporary Uses - Benefit Performances would entirely eliminate this veto authority from neighbors. If passed, the ZTA would merely require that those residents be notified that they are going to be treated to a benefit performance, whether they like it or not. The performances could last as long as 15 days(!!).

I would venture to say that few Montgomery County residents are even aware that they currently possess this veto authority, much less that the Council is conniving to relieve them of it. The move continues a trend for the Council - when they're not banning stuff or raising taxes, they're systematically removing residents' ability to express objection or input on controversial matters they want to ram through, from development and road diets to bike lanes, bus depots, landfills and jails. A public hearing on the ZTA is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.

Wheaton Plaza shooting suspect charged as adult

The 17-year-old suspect in a shooting inside Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall last evening has been charged as an adult, Montgomery County police announced this afternoon. Diego Rafael Turcios Avalos is facing charges of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a violent felony, carrying a loaded handgun on his person and possession of a firearm by a minor. He is being held at the County jail pending a bond hearing.

Police allege that Turcios Avalos was seated at a table near Cinnabon inside the mall at 5:58 PM Friday, when a group of teenagers walked past him. For reasons yet unspecified, he stood up, drew a handgun, and fired at the teens, hitting a 13-year-old boy in the leg. Turcios Avalos then turned and ran from the scene.

As the suspect neared Dick's Sporting Goods, he was intercepted by an armed mall security guard. Police say the guard ordered him to drop to the floor, which is where County police officers responding to approximately two dozen 911 calls regarding the shooting found him minutes later. Police allege Turcios Avalos was in possession of a black 9mm handgun when he was taken into custody by Montgomery's Finest.

Officers found the shooting victim, and applied a tourniquet to his leg. They took note that children had been playing in a play area close to the shooting scene when the shooter allegedly fired. Turcios Avalos could be facing additional charges for the reckless endangerment of mall patrons. His mugshot was not released by police.

Knife-wielding suspect tries to enter homes in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating a suspect they say tried to enter several homes in the middle of the night in the Fairland area of Silver Spring on Friday, July 24, 2026. At 4:23 AM, the suspect was captured on doorbell cameras attempting to enter several homes in the 13200 block of Guilford Run Lane. Police allege the suspect was carrying a large knife at the time. 

The suspect is described by police as a Hispanic male, approximately 16 to 20 years of age, with dark hair and a goatee. He was wearing "oversized athletic shorts" and a light colored hoodie with the hood pulled up. Anyone with information regarding the suspect or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at http://crimesolversmcmd.org, and click on the “http://p3tips.com” link at the top of the page, or call 1-866-411-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous. 

Aggravated assault at apartment complex in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police were called to an apartment complex in the White Oak area of Silver Spring to investigate an aggravated assault Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The assault took place in an apartment in the unit block of Featherwood Court at 11:58 PM. That is at the Spring Parc Apartments along Columbia Pike.

According to police, two men were arguing and one struck the other in the head with an unspecified "hard object." The victim was injured by the blow. A description of the suspect, and an update on the condition of the victim, have not been released at this time.

Wonder food hall to open in Burtonsville

Wonder food hall must have received an incredible fusion of capital. It is expanding across Montgomery County at breakneck speed, sending fancy mailers to homes around each location, and making tremendous online and buys. The latest location is Burtonsville Crossing at 15771 Old Columbia Pike. "Coming soon" signage has been installed at the future storefront.

Italian Kitchen for sale in Silver Spring

Italian Kitchen is now being offered for sale in Silver Spring. The restaurant closed last August after a successful decade in business. Nearly a year later, a banner attached to the building is announcing the business - not the building - is now available for sale. Italian Kitchen is located at 8201 Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring.

AutoZone nears opening at White Oak Shopping Center in Silver Spring

AutoZone is in the home stretch at 11259 New Hampshire Avenue at the White Oak Shopping Center in Silver Spring. Signage has been installed on the building, which was formerly home to Sears Auto Center. Inside, as you can see in the photos below, workers are now beginning to stock the shelves. The building is looking sharp amid the surrounding architectural gems such as the iconic-but-vacant Sears store, and the Enclave apartments.

Silver Spring neighbors complain of fried chicken aroma from Royal Farms

Could you ever get tired of the aroma of fresh Royal Farms fried chicken? Some neighbors of the new Royal Farms store at 9475 Georgia Avenue, in the Montgomery Hills area of Silver Spring, have. And the Maryland convenience store chain has heard them. The company has agreed to install a "Chicken Exhaust Scrubber," which it hopes will "resolve the aroma of fried chicken in the neighborhood." Royal Farms is directly adjacent to a residential neighborhood.

Photo courtesy Royal Farms

The Guardian apartments amped about Paris Baguette in Silver Spring

The Guardian apartments at 8605 Cameron Street in downtown Silver Spring have gotten a lot of attention for being a successful conversion of office space to residential, while many in the region are still just talking about it. Now another aspect of the project is turning heads, thanks to a massive banner high up on the building facade. It's promoting the imminent arrival of a Paris Baguette cafe and bakery in the ground floor of the building. 

Strong-arm robbery at restaurant in downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery at a restaurant in downtown Silver Spring on Wednesday afternoon, July 22, 2026. The assault and robbery took place at a restaurant in the 800 block of Ellsworth Drive at 4:47 PM. According to police, the adult male suspect pushed the adult male victim to the floor inside the restaurant, and stole unspecified property from him. Police have not released a description of the suspect, and have not identified the specific restaurant where the incident took place.

Montgomery Hills Car Wash demolished, but hidden historic cemetery remains

The Montgomery Hills Car Wash at 9500 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring has been demolished. But buried underneath the landmark business remains an earlier, lost landmark: Mount Zion Episcopal Cemetery. The property has been purchased by the Maryland State Highway Administration for use as a construction staging area for the War-on-cars Georgia Avenue Safety and Accessibility Project. It's certainly disrespectful, to use a burial ground as a staging area. But probably par for the course for today's SHA, which has become heavily politicized over the last decade, responding to the every need of our corrupt elected officials, engineering best practices and basic human decency be damned.

Man pistol-whipped, robbed in broad daylight in Silver Spring

Yet another violent crime was committed in broad daylight Saturday afternoon in Silver Spring, a disturbing 2026 trend in Montgomery County. The adult male victim in this case was walking in the 8700 block of Georgia Avenue at 2:59 PM, when he was approached from behind by the adult male suspect. After striking the victim in the head from behind with a handgun, the suspect took unspecified property from him, and fled the scene on foot. Police have not released a description of the suspect as of this writing.

Silver Spring's newest parking garage enters final phase of construction (Photos)

Construction of the new public parking garage at 8615 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring is entering the final phase. The structure has been designed to have retail space on the ground floor, and it's a nice touch that the corner stairwell echoes the corner window design of the building next door. When Montgomery County's moribund economy scuppered a planned office building on this site, United Therapeutics stepped in to save the day, making a deal with the County. Under the agreement, the biotech firm has constructed this public parking garage on this site, and the County, in turn, is handing over the Cameron Street Garage property at 8700 Cameron Street to UT for future expansion. UT is also providing a fiber hub to the County, a parcel of land for future affordable housing, and a new County Department of Transportation parking operations facility at 9150 Brookville Road in Forest Glen.