John Matthews
WMAL.com
BREAKING NEWS – We’re just hearing details this morning about an officer-involved shooting in the Fairland section of Silver Spring – police say a man forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s home, where she was with their 3-year-old son and her new boyfriend.
The man had a knife and a gun, so the adults fled, leaving the boy behind. Police tried to make contact with the man now barricaded in the house, but he refused to leave, or to release the child . Eventually police entered the home and shot the suspect. He’s in grave condition. The boy was not hurt.
Read the police press release below:
Detectives with the Major Crimes Division and the Internal Affairs Division are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred last night. The subject who was shot is being identified as John Carlos Natera-Perez, also known as Jean Perez. He is believed to be approximately 30 years old.
On Monday, July 23, at approximately 7:57 p.m., 3rd District officers responded for an assault in the 2800 block of Mozart Drive in the Fairland area. The first call to 911 was reported to be a woman screaming. The call taker heard a male voice state, “I will kill you,” and the line was then disconnected.
When officers arrived, they learned that the male subject, later identified as Mr. Perez, had entered the residence belonging to his ex-girlfriend. The woman and current boyfriend were inside the residence. The woman told police that Mr. Perez was her estranged boyfriend and father of their 3-year-old boy who was still in the residence. Mr. Perez had armed himself with a knife and the woman and male fled the home fearing for their safety. The 3-year-old male was still in the house, with Mr. Perez.
Officers attempted to call out to and make contact with Mr. Perez, but these efforts were not successful. The Emergency Response Team (ERT) was called at approximately 8:08 p.m. Once ERT had responded, negotiators attempted to contact Mr. Perez in English and Spanish, to have Mr. Perez leave the home and/or release the 3-year-old child. Although Mr. Perez made some verbal responses, he refused to exit the home or release the child.
During this time, police were able to see that Perez was using furniture to barricade doors and windows inside the home. Officers also observed that Perez writing on the windows using what appeared to be blood on his fingers. Officers continued to try to establish contact with Perez for over an hour. At this time, Perez lit an object on fire and threw it out a second-floor window of the bedroom believed to be where the 3-year-old was located.
Additional smoke was observed from a second-floor bedroom, smoke detectors were activated and audible, and the screams of the child could be heard coming from the second floor. Tactical team supervisors made the decision to enter the home for the welfare of the child. During this time, an officer observed Perez and shot him. Life-saving efforts were administered by officers on the scene as well as by Fire and Rescue personnel. Perez was transported to a local trauma center in grave condition.
The 3-year-old child was located on the second floor, uninjured.
This investigation is ongoing. As more information is able to be confirmed, it will be released.
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