SILVER SPRING, Md. — A man who had just finished dinner with his family and was dropping some leftovers off in the car was found shot to death in a parking garage stairwell in downtown Silver Spring Wednesday night. His death has left Montgomery County Police stumped as to a motive, or any suspects involved.
Charles Joseph Reynolds was supposed to be meeting his family at a Ben & Jerry's around the corner from where the car was parked for dessert. When he didn't return, his family got worried.
MCPD officers were sent to the 900 block of Wayne Avenue for a reported stabbing around the same time of Reynolds disappearance. When they arrived they found a man dead, with severe blood loss, in the second floor stairwell of the parking garage. Despite the initial call for a stabbing, police now believe Reynolds was shot to death.
Police Chief Marcus Jones said it did not appear that any personal items were stolen, and Reynolds' car was still in the parking garage, leaving police with few leads as to who may have killed the 62-year-old father.
"What is the motive? At this moment we do not know," Jones said in a press conference Thursday. "This is why we are asking for the public's help."
Jones asked any businesses with surveillance footage, or anyone who was in the area who "saw something suspicious" to come forward and speak with police.
The police department also increased their presence in the area, and foot patrols in nearby parking garages. County Executive March Elrich added that he'll be advocating for new cameras to be placed in all the stairwells of the garage, which does not currently have any.
"This is the kind of random thing that is mot worrisome to people in the community," Elrich said. "I walk down that stairwell all the time ... and the idea that it became the scene of a murder is really concerning."
Councilmember Kate Stewart, who was friends with the Reynolds family, called the death "shocking" and said the family is devastated.
Anyone with information can contact MCPD at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the homicide suspect. Callers may remain anonymous.
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