Montgomery County detectives are asking the public for help in identifying suspects in a shooting Saturday evening that injured a 17-year-old boy at a park near Watkins Mill Elementary School in Montgomery Village, according to authorities.
Officers responded at about 5:45 p.m. to a report of a shooting at South Valley Park at 19003 Watkins Mill Road in Montgomery Village, police said Monday afternoon in a statement.
According to police, the teen was struck by a bullet during a shooting that occurred between two groups of people in the parking lot while a youth football game was underway on the park’s field. The teen was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
As of Monday afternoon, police did not have a suspect in custody and believe the shooting was an “isolated incident,” the statement said.
Three vehicles in the parking lot also were struck by bullets, police said. Officers found shell casings in the parking lot and on a grassy area near the 10100 block of Little Pond Place, within the Heron’s Cove Condominium property.
A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to MoCo360’s inquiry for more details about the shooting on Monday afternoon.
The football game at the park was not affiliated with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), according to spokesperson Liliana Lopez.
“We are making sure that the community is aware of resources available for students who, along with their families, may have attended the game and were impacted by what happened,” Lopez said Monday. “Our counseling team will offer counseling support at school throughout the week.”
While at the park Saturday night, a Fox 5 reporter described a frantic scene after the shooting occurred while football players ranging from 6 to 13 years old were playing on the field.
Police spokesperson Carlos Cortes told Fox 5 Saturday evening that he understands the community has questions about the shooting and that police were “taking this very seriously.”
Cortes also said police are asking for the community’s help with the investigation.
“We know in incidents like this, we know that somebody might have been taking video, might have been taking pictures or might have seen something so we want to speak with those community members,” he said.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 240-773-5770 or to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 866-411-8477 or online. Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward up to S10,000 reward and can remain anonymous.
