BETHESDA, Md. — Three people were arrested after a man was found stabbed to death in a stairwell at a popular Bethesda shopping center Monday night.
According to a press release from Montgomery County Police, 16-year-old, 17-year-old and 18-year-old young men have been arrested in connection to the death of 33-year-old Lawrence Richard Wilson, Jr. They are being charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy robbery.
The police report says the three suspects went to a Target store in the 6800 block of Wisconsin Avenue "with the intention of robbing [the victim] of 2 'zips' of marijuana." The report goes on to say that during the attempted robbery one of the suspects handed another a knife, and the victim was then stabbed and killed. All three suspects ran from the scene, according to police.
Surveillance video from Target does show the three suspects go into a stairwell with the victim, and 17 minutes later two of the suspects are seen running away together, according to the police report.
“I was shocked somebody could get away with that because a lot of people come here all the time,” said one shopper.
They didn’t get away with it for long. Detectives arrested the 3 suspects less than 24 hours after the body was discovered. Police said the victim was attacked and left to die in the stairwell of the 4-story open-air shopping center.
Police said the man's body was found in the stairwell of a Target at the Shops of Wisconsin around 8:15 p.m. after one of the suspects told police he witnessed the attack. Wilson's body had multiple stab wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was ruled a homicide.
“The stairwells are like black so at night it could be kind of hard to see and there’s like 3 of them I think,” said the shopper.
“I don’t think it’s anything worse than a normal city environment,” added a man nearby. “I don’t come every day, but I wouldn’t be afraid of this place. I mean it’s the city it’s how things are.” Still, the man said the murder is an awful reminder to slow down and watch your back – even in the holiday rush. “Be aware always,” he said. “you never know.”
The 18-year-old suspect was identified by police as Blaise Uchemadu. In most circumstances, WUSA9 does not identify minors accused of crimes. Police say the three suspects knew each other from living in the same Montgomery County group home.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at (240) 773-5070.
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