Man Charged in Officer-Involved Shooting at Quince Orchard and Darnestown Roads

A 26-year-old man was charged with first-degree assault in connection with an officer-involved shooting at Quince Orchard and Darnestown roads in Gaithersburg in June, Montgomery County police said.

Juan L. Cazares-Roque, of an unconfirmed address, is also charged with second-degree assault, two theft charges and possession of an exposed and loaded shotgun in a motor vehicle, according to a county police news release.

Shortly after 10 p.m. June 23, Howard County police alerted Montgomery County police that Cazares-Roque had been involved in a domestic incident in Howard County in which he fired a gun. Cazares-Roque could be in a home in the 14200 block of Quince Orchard Road, Howard County police said.

Montgomery County police responding to a home in the neighborhood saw Cazares-Roque leaving in a Ford Explorer, the release said. Police stopped the Explorer about 11:29 p.m., at Quince Orchard and Darnestown roads. 

During the stop, county police Officer David Delacruz noticed a shotgun in the Explorer, the release said. When Cazares-Roque reached for the gun, Delacruz fired one shot from his rifle, striking Cazares-Roque in the arm and leg. 

Cazares-Roque fled in the Explorer, and was pursued by police cruisers until crashing into another vehicle that was stopped at a red light at Quince Orchard Road and Great Seneca Highway, the release said.

Cazares-Roque was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. A woman driving the vehicle stopped at the light was unharmed. No officers were hurt in the incident.