Silver Spring man convicted for murder of convenience store clerk

Torrey Moore also faces double murder charge in death of pregnant girlfriend

May 17, 2024 10:05 p.m.

A Silver Spring man facing a double murder charge in the death of his pregnant girlfriend was found guilty Thursday in another Montgomery County case involving the 2022 fatal shooting of a gas station convenience store clerk.

A Montgomery County Circuit Court jury convicted Torrey Damien Moore, 33, of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence and illegal possession of a regulated firearm in the Dec. 8, 2022, fatal shooting death of Ayalew Wondimu, 61, at the Shell Gas station on the 11000 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, according to a release from the county State’s Attorney’s Office.

Moore faces the possibility of life in prison during his sentencing scheduled for Dec. 12, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.

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According to authorities, Moore shot Wondimu after entering the gas station’s Dash In convenience store where Wondimu was working as a clerk.

Moore, who intended to purchase a drink, had been banned from the store, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office. Moore and Wondimu entered into a verbal altercation. That led to Moore throwing energy drink shot bottles at Wondimu, who attempted to strike Moore with a metal pole while ordering him to leave, the State’s Attorney’s Office said.

Moore then drew a handgun and shot Wondimu three times before fleeing. Wondimu was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.

A month before Moore is sentenced in that case, he will stand trial Nov. 18 for the double murder of his pregnant girlfriend and the unborn fetus she was carrying.

On Dec. 9, 2022, Montgomery County police arrived at Moore’s residence at The Enclave apartment complex on Oak Leaf Drive to serve an arrest warrant after he was identified as a suspect in Wondimu’s death. There, detectives found the remains of Denise Middleton, 26, who had been shot several times. Middleton’s body was discovered in an advanced stage of decomposition and was carrying a male fetus, which was eight months along and viable, according to authorities.

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Police found Moore in his apartment, where he was arrested Dec. 9. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and related charges in connection with Middleton’s death, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Moore was deemed incompetent to stand trial on Dec. 19, 2022, following a mental competency evaluation. That decision was reversed in court on July 26, 2023, according to authorities.

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