A Montgomery County man facing a first-degree murder charge for the death of his girlfriend in a June shooting was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday, according to online court records.
Alejandro Jose Perez de Leon, 48, of Kensington, was arrested and charged on June 18 in the shooting death of Silvia Elenia Fernandez, 33.
Perez de Leon was scheduled to appear in District Court for a preliminary hearing on July 19, but the indictment shifted the case to Circuit Court. A scheduling hearing is slated for Friday.
The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the prosecution’s plans for the case or whether a plea deal will be offered.
The county’s Emergency Communications Center received a call from a resident at 10724 Shaftsbury St. reporting a shooting in the basement of the property, according to charging documents. The caller said he heard arguing, then a woman screaming, followed by gunshots.
The caller told police that a man and a woman rent the basement. He added that his father had just received a call from the male tenant stating that he had “shot her” and “she’s dead,” according to charging documents.
Officers responded at around 9:59 p.m. and located Perez de Leon, who surrendered outside the residence. Fernandez was found inside the residence and pronounced dead at the scene. A black revolver-style handgun was found next to her body, according to charging documents.
After he was taken into custody, Perez de Leon told officers he lived with Fernandez, his girlfriend, and they were arguing that evening about the status of their relationship, according to charging documents.
Fernandez threatened to call the police and tell them Perez de Leon had a gun, prompting him to retrieve the weapon. When she picked up the phone,
Perez de Leon shot her, though he didn’t know how many times, according to charging documents.
Perez de Leon was being held in a county detention center without bond. Attorney information was not available in online records as of Monday afternoon.
Charlie Wright can be reached at charlie.wright@moco360.media
