MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Maryland authorities on Friday released investigative reports into the July 2023 police shooting death of 19-year-old Franklin Castro Ordonez. Officers with the Montgomery County Police Department killed Castro Ordonez after they say he stabbed four people in a series of unprovoked attacks.
On July 22, 2023, around 10:30 a.m., officers responded to the Unique Thrift Store on Veirs Mill Road for a report of a stabbing. Officers arrived to find a woman had been stabbed. While on scene at the thrift store, officers were made aware of another stabbing. Two women having a yard sale were stabbed in the 4100 block of Colie Drive. A man was also slashed across the forearm, according to the report.
Police began searching the area for Castro Ordonez, setting up a parameter in the neighborhood. A bystander flagged down an officer and showed him pictures on her phone of "the dude that just stabbed a lady."
After patrolling the area, they found him in the 4300 block of Havard Street armed with a 12-inch butcher knife. Officer Justin Lee told Castro Ordonez to drop the knife, but he did not. The 19-year-old man came toward Lee, who opened fire. Castro Ordonez was shot three times.
Castro Ordonez was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were hurt.
The Independent Investigations Division (IID) sent its report to the State's Attorney on Dec. 8, 2023, which provided the results of the autopsy and other relevant testing and concluded its investigation.
On March 7, 2024, the Howard County State's Attorney's Office notified the IID of its decision not to prosecute the case.
The full report can be found here.
RELATED: Police body camera shows knife-wielding stabbing suspect run at officer who shoots him to death
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