SILVER SPRING, Md. — A 21-year-old Baltimore man was killed in a shooting inside a Silver Spring parking garage early Saturday morning, according to Montgomery County Police.
At 2:40 a.m., Montgomery County's 911 center received multiple calls for shots fired inside Public Parking Garage 3, near Thayer and Silver Spring Avenues.
"The shots woke me up last night. It was very distinctive. We hear trucks going in and out of the grocery store all the time, but this was different. It was very distinctive," explained Dennell Reynolds, a resident who lives in the area, to WUSA9.
Officers say they found Kymani Elijah Bailey of Baltimore with a gunshot wound on the first level of the garage. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives say moments earlier the victim had been in a nearby restaurant.
Montgomery County Police said they do not yet have a suspect lookout or motive for the shooting.
The investigation is active and ongoing.
The shooting comes on the same day that free parking ended in parts of Montgomery County. As of July 8, drivers who use the county's parking garages, lots and street meters in Bethesda and Silver Spring have to pay on Saturdays.
"I am okay with that. I wasn't at first, but when I think about it, it's worth it," said Silver Spring resident Joseph Chiancone. He says he was hesitant about the changes, until he learned the funds obtained from the new parking fees would be used for enhanced security measures including more lighting and cameras at parking facilities in Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Wheaton.
"Using the funds for safety, security, putting cameras everywhere I am fine with that," Chiancone added.
The new fees were prompted by the death of Charles Reynolds who was killed inside a stairwell of the parking garage on Wayne Avenue in downtown Silver Spring on Dec. 21, 2022. He had just finished dinner with his wife and daughters and was dropping some leftovers off in the car when he was shot.
In a May press conference, MCPD Chief Marcus Jones said his detectives have been left stumped on a motive or suspects involved.
"We'd really like to see someone come forward," Reynolds' wife, Karis Hastings, said. "Nothing is going to bring him back, but finding the person who did this would at least make the community feel a bit safer again."
Montgomery County officials have yet to release a date about when the increased security changes will be implemented at the parking facilities.