Armed robbery in Silver Spring garage

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in the parking garage of an apartment building in downtown Silver Spring early yesterday morning, May 22, 2023. The robbery was reported in a residential parking garage in the 900 block of Silver Spring Avenue at 2:58 AM Monday.

Red Ribbon Bakeshop aiming for June opening in Wheaton

Red Ribbon Bakeshop hopes to open sometime in June at 2501 University Boulevard West in Wheaton, a spokesperson for the company said. It's an optimistic projection to be sure, based on the current status of the interior fit-out. Construction has been advancing very slowly over the last two months. The Filipino bakery chain is part of the same parent company as Jollibee, it turns out, perhaps explaining why both have chosen Wheaton. 

Fatal shooting of teenager at Wheaton Metro station, reward offered as police seek suspects

An 18-year-old man has died after being shot inside the Wheaton Metro station yesterday afternoon, May 18, 2023. Montgomery County homicide detectives say that Tenneson Vaughn Leslie, Jr., of Greenbelt was riding on the station's escalator with a group of people, and became involved in an altercation with a group of males that was also on the escalator. The dispute continued until the two groups reached the train platform of the station, where Leslie was shot. Police arrived at the scene around 5:53 PM, but the second group of males had fled the station by that point.

Leslie was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. He passed away at the hospital last evening. Police have not yet released surveillance camera footage of the suspects from the Metro station; one must presume they have a strategic reason for not doing so.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide is asked to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-455-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s). Callers can remain anonymous. 

Silver Spring Transit Center Purple Line construction update (Photos)

There are now 400 workers building the Purple Line light rail system at 60 different construction sites between Bethesda and New Carrollton, according to the Maryland Transit Administration. Here we are taking a closer look at one of them, the Silver Spring Transit Center in downtown Silver Spring. The major component being worked on here at the moment, is a new mezzanine connecting the Metro subway platform to the Silver Spring Transit Center. MTA says this will improve connections between the future Purple Line station, Metro, MARC, Metrobus and Ride On services. 

Alleged Silver Spring machete-wielding rapist arrested

Montgomery County police have arrested the suspect in yesterday's rape along the Northwest Branch Trail in Silver Spring. Jose Roberto Hernandez-Penal, 20, of Hyattsville has been with first-degree rape, kidnapping and armed robbery. At 2:40 PM on Tuesday, Hernandez-Penal allegedly approached two adult females on the trail, brandished a machete, and demanded property from the victims. They complied with the demand, but Hernandez-Penal then sexually assaulted one of the women, and then fled the scene. Shortly thereafter, he allegedly assaulted an adult male in the 1100 block of Devere Drive.

Montgomery County still does not have its own police helicopter, but a Maryland State Police chopper was called in to search the area. Officers set up a perimeter in the area. In cooperation with state troopers, Maryland-National Capital Park Police and Montgomery County police K-9 units, they located and arrested Hernandez-Penal.

In interviews with detectives, Hernandez-Penal allegedly "made statements of involvement" in Tuesday's incidents. Detectives believe that there may be additional victims of sexual assault by Hernandez-Penal that have not contacted police. They are urging anyone who believes themselves to be a victim to contact the police department's Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5050 or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477). Callers can remain anonymous. 

Arcola ES, Wheaton Woods ES students' art in MCPS All-County Art Show (Photos)

Artwork by Montgomery County Public Schools elementary school students was displayed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The annual All-County Art Show is designed to show the results of visual arts studies by MCPS students. Here is a sample of works that were on display:

Fruver opens in Wheaton

Fruver is now open at 11255 Grandview Avenue in Wheaton. The shop specializes in smoothies, mangonadas, coffee, and fresh fruit bowls. It also offers a modest selection of packaged snacks like crackers, chips and popcorn. 

Should you try out Fruver? The answer is decidedly so: They've got a perfect 5-stars across the board in 12 Google reviews so far, as well as on Yelp (from the one reviewer who has actually sampled the food). Fruver's operating hours are 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM seven days a week.