MD - Shadi Najjar & Artem Ziberov, fatally shot, Montgomery Co., 5 June 2017

[everybodhi]

BBM
If they were selling graduation tickets, they may very well have delivered the tickets to the buyer's house prior to being shot. They were in a residential neighborhood. One of the victims was clutching $20, so they may have just completed the transaction.


<snip> http://abcnews.go.com/US/maryland-teens-found-shot-dead-night-high-school/story?id=47870214
BBM
Or, do you mean why didn't the victims have the buyer come to one of their houses to make the transaction? The potential buyer may have preferred that the tickets be delivered to his/her door, and usually the seller tries to accommodate the buyer. Yet, IF that's the case, I wonder why the person who purchased the tickets hasn't not spoken out about the killings. OTOH, maybe a person who purchased tickets from the victims has spoken to LE, or such a person could be too scared. The murders could have a connection to this other individual and not directly to Shadi and Artem. Maybe they just had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. JMO

Maybe the killers set them up, claiming it was their address and wanting to buy tickets, only to ambush them in the street.

 

[jellybeanz]

This is a conundrum

 

[Indy Anna]

Tewelow said the phone records he has seen show Artem did not answer phone calls from his mother in the hour or so before his death, and he made no calls between 9:30 p.m. and 10:43 p.m. when the shooting took place.

[...]

Shadi Najjar was in the driver&#8217;s seat of a Honda Civic with the interior light was [sic] on on June 5. The car was running and the headlights were on when as many as two gunman opened fire on the two teenagers.

<snip> http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/260961456-story

 

[Indy Anna]

The family of victim Shadi Najjar says his cell phone was taken. They believe he’s the person the killer was after.

[...]

Shadi’s best friend, Artem Ziberov, was also murdered, but Adi believes the killer was targeting his son. He provided new information about what the killer took from the crime scene.

<snip> http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/06/13/parents-say-slain-teen-was-targeted/
BBM
I wonder what was on Shadi's cell phone that someone might want. I hope Shadi confided in someone else who can provide info to LE.

Investigators are hopeful that perhaps a home surveillance system’s outside camera could have caught something relevant and helpful. They also think that an acquaintance or friend might know something that could help investigators.

<snip> http://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2017/06/investigators-help-md-teens-fatal-shooting/

 

[Daephine]

If Shadi's cell phone was taken, then there must have been something on the phone that would have linked the killer(s) to the two boys. Maybe a text message convo?

And if the boys were killed while in the vehicle, the killer(s) would have had to open the door - unless a window was open (or broken) - to grab the phone.

Because it was Shadi's phone that was taken, I am leaning towards him being the initial target. Perhaps they were lured to that meeting area by the killer(s)... maybe by the promise that someone was going to buy the grad tickets. A residential area far from home is such a random place to meet up.

I just can't believe the possible idea that they were buying drugs, just because they are intelligent individuals with no indication of delinquent tendencies (based only on what I've read online)... though I'm sure we all know an honour student who has tried drugs.

It could have been a hate crime, jmo. Also, there seems to be so much hatred based on the amount of bullets that were fired. I can also see how "newbie" murderers might fire more bullets to make sure no witnesses survive.

So sad.

 

[Cryptic]

This was my thought, too. And it's totally possible that if one of their own names was used on a site, perhaps someone made a snap decision that this person was "Muslim" simply because they had a foreign sounding name?

I sadly wouldn't be shocked if this was motivated by hate; just because they live in a culturally diverse area that doesn't IMO preclude them from such. I have a hard time imagining a student shooting them for graduation tickets - and I imagine if they had we would have maybe a few gunshots max, not 22. And IMO I can't imagine someone killing them just because they were jealous of their achievements. The high number of gun shots is a big indicator of something more nefarious, IMO. The confusion for me is that even if this was a hate crime

I agree that it does not look like robbery and the high number of shots suggests a personal motive.

It is possible that it was a hate crime, but one of the victims is slavic, and thus does not "look" moslem. Of course, there is no moslem or non moslem "look", but many hate motivated people presume there is. They then target people who appear to be from moslem ethnic groups, or conversely, Jihadis targeting people who don't have a moslem "look".

All, in all, the slavic victim seems to reduce the possibility of a hate crime. Other personal motives that could lead to over kill violence could include retaliation for personal or family issues, an insult, a romantic rivalry etc. It is also possible that only one victim was the target and the other was killed because he was there and was presumed to be "backing" the victim.

Though neither of the victims appears to have been from an economic background where personal vengeance motives are common, both victims may have come from an honor culture background. Not only do a certain number of moslems come from such cultures, but eastern Europeans, at least the ones I have met (Poles, Croats, Serbs), can be pretty "olde school" about respect / disrespect issues.

 

[kchoney]

Looks like LE thinks at least one of the victims knew the shooters. 30 shell casings found. They also believe someone at the HS knows something. (I used to live in Montgomery County, still live close by and work in DC, so this has been all over local news...)

“They would have no normal course of business in that neighborhood on that street,” he said.

Francke also said police believe there’s a connection between at least one of the teens and the suspects in the case and pleaded for tips from the public.

“We do believe that the suspects and the victims knew each other and more importantly we believe there are people out there that have not come forward yet and have not given us information that they know about this case,” Frankce said.

Francke said the family of one the victims, Najjar, was seeking to increase the reward offered for information leading to an arrest from the $10,000 being offered now.

“We believe people are talking,” Frankce said. “We believe that there’s probably a good chance that someone at Northwest High School knows something that they should share, that they should do the right thing … share the information that’s going to take what is multiple violent suspects, take them into custody and make it safer for the residents of Montgomery County.”

Anyone who may have information is urged to call Montgomery County police’s major crimes division at 240-773-5070. Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip to its website.

http://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2017/06/14262546/

 

[Falcon500]

Arrests made in this case. Information to follow later.

 

[0101ABA]

Media Advisory: Chief Manger and Major Crimes Division Detectives Announce Arrests for the June 5 Double Homicide of Shadi Adi Najjar and Artem S. Ziberov

Posted on 06/17/2017

WHAT:
Press Conference to announce the arrests of the persons developed as responsible for the double homicide of the two Northwest High School students, 17-year-old Shadi Adi Najjar and 18-year-old Artem S. Ziberov that occurred on June 5 in Montgomery Village.

WHEN:
Tonight, Saturday, June 17 at 10:30
No further details of these arrests can be confirmed prior to the press conference.
Members of the Media are asked to arrive early enough to allow time for the security check-in process and escort to lower level.

WHERE:
Montgomery County Public Safety Headquarters (Lower Level)
100 Edison Park Drive
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878

SPEAKERS:
Montgomery County Chief of Police J. Thomas Manger
Director of the Major Crimes Division Captain Darren Francke

http://www.mymcpnews.com/2017/06/17...cide-of-shadi-adi-najjar-and-artem-s-ziberov/

 

[Spellbound]

Thank you, Falcon and KayElJay!

I am happy this happened so quickly.

 

[0101ABA]

Two Maryland teenagers gunned down on the eve of their high school graduation were lured to a dark cul-de-sac by three men who feigned interest in buying an extra commencement ticket &#8212; a scheme motivated by anger over an earlier, botched drug deal, Montgomery County police said in arrest records filed Saturday as the suspects were charged with murder.

(...)

Court records identified the suspects as Jose Canales-Yanez, 25; Edgar Garcia-Gaona, 24; and his brother Roger Garcia, 19, all of Montgomery County. Each has been charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...28ba60fbb98_story.html?utm_term=.639e0f98b29b

 

[Spellbound]

Live press conference here:
http://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2...de-montgomery-village-fatal-shooting-2-teens/

sounds like drug related, 3 arrested

 

[Spellbound]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...28ba60fbb98_story.html?utm_term=.8763e82eb5b0

Court records identified the suspects as Jose Canales-Yanez, 25; Edgar Garcia-Gaona, 24; and his brother Roger Garcia, 19, all of Montgomery County.

It wasn&#8217;t clear whether he was aware of what police described as a previous soured drug buy involving Najjar and a girlfriend of one of the attackers that appears to have festered as resentment for months before become brutal retaliation in June.

Behind the scenes, detectives had spent two weeks discovering another dimension to Najjar, in which he sold and smoked marijuana and had purportedly stolen drugs from a female dealer late last year, the arrest documents show.

Garcia-Gaona had been involved in a shooting on Feb. 10 in the community of Montgomery Village, not far from the scene of the slayings.

[Garcia-Gaona was friends with Canales-Yanez, Canales-Yanez had a girlfriend, who had tried to sell drugs to Najjar six months ago.]

 

[Spellbound]

From press conference, http://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2...de-montgomery-village-fatal-shooting-2-teens/


Najja's last text to a girl said he was going to sell graduation ticket to Roger Garcia.

Najjar possibly involved in theft of drugs in December (passenger in blue Honda Covic grabbed a girl's iPad and dragged her 50 ft.). Girl was girlfriend of Yannez (now his wife). [until I re-listen, this may be two separate incidents, I may have got confused here]

Murders were retaliation for the previous theft. unknown if Ziborov was just in the wrong place or an intended target

Believe there are additional sources who have info but have not yet come forward

Yannez is 25 yr old, Edgar Garcia-Gaona age 24, Roger Garcia age 19.
All are charged with 2 counts 1st degree murder and 2 counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

Najjar's phone was taken during the commission of murders, phone has not been recovered. the graduation ticket buy was probably a ruse to get Najjar to the scene.

Unknown what kind of drugs or how many were "stolen".

Garcia-Gaona has had two other cases where he exchanged gunfire with other individuals.

Najjar was shot 4 times. Ziborov shot 10 times , 30 casing rounds were found at the scene.

 

[cnmccarthy]

From press conference, http://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2...de-montgomery-village-fatal-shooting-2-teens/


Najja's last text to a girl said he was going to sell graduation ticket to Roger Garcia.

Najjar possibly involved in theft of drugs in December (passenger in blue Honda Covic grabbed a girl's iPad and dragged her 50 ft.). Girl was girlfriend of Yannez (now his wife). [until I re-listen, this may be two separate incidents, I may have got confused here]

Murders were retaliation for the previous theft. unknown if Ziborov was just in the wrong place or an intended target

Believe there are additional sources who have info but have not yet come forward

Yannez is 25 yr old, Edgar Garcia-Gaona age 24, Roger Garcia age 19.
All are charged with 2 counts 1st degree murder and 2 counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

Najjar's phone was taken during the commission of murders, phone has not been recovered. the graduation ticket buy was probably a ruse to get Najjar to the scene.

Unknown what kind of drugs or how many were "stolen".

Garcia-Gaona has had two other cases where he exchanged gunfire with other individuals.

Najjar was shot 4 times. Ziborov shot 10 times , 30 casing rounds were found at the scene.

But why shoot ziborov 10 times? Seems the amount of shots should be reversed with what we've just found out?


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[everybodhi]

There's a lot going on here.
Did a witness say it was about stealing an ipad because they didn't want to mention drugs? Or, were drugs and an iPad stolen?

"During the investigation it was learned from a friend of Najjar&#8217;s that Najjar had committed a drug-related robbery in December of 2016 or January of 2017, where it was rumored that he had stolen drugs from a female during a drug transaction.
It was also learned from the same friend that just prior to this death, Najjar told the friend that he was planning to sell a graduation ticket to an individual named Roger Garcia. That was the last communication Najjar had prior to his death. It occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m."

http://www.mymcpnews.com/2017/06/18...cide-of-shadi-adi-najjar-and-artem-s-ziberov/

 

[pukasonqo2]

But why shoot ziborov 10 times? Seems the amount of shots should be reversed with what we've just found out?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

i am assuming they didn't want any possible witness that might ID them and just opened fire
seriously, something has to be done about guns in the usa (i am in oz where gun laws are though and still, we get gang shootings occasionally)
so many promises now unfulfilled


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Spellbound]

There's a lot going on here.
Did a witness say it was about stealing an ipad because they didn't want to mention drugs? Or, were drugs and an iPad stolen?

"During the investigation it was learned from a friend of Najjar&#8217;s that Najjar had committed a drug-related robbery in December of 2016 or January of 2017, where it was rumored that he had stolen drugs from a female during a drug transaction.
It was also learned from the same friend that just prior to this death, Najjar told the friend that he was planning to sell a graduation ticket to an individual named Roger Garcia. That was the last communication Najjar had prior to his death. It occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m."

http://www.mymcpnews.com/2017/06/18...cide-of-shadi-adi-najjar-and-artem-s-ziberov/

Or ..... did the "woman" (victim of robbery) lie to her boyfriend that he stole drugs and ipad from her? Just maybe that never happened, but she made it all up ...... just speculating.

at this point, the stolen drugs is apparently just a "rumor"

 

[everybodhi]

Or ..... did the "woman" (victim of robbery) lie to her boyfriend that he stole drugs and ipad from her? Just maybe that never happened, but she made it all up ...... just speculating.

at this point, the stolen drugs is apparently just a "rumor"

The witness is the wife of one of the killers so...
Anyway you look at it, stealing some pot or an IPad does not justify murder.
An Ipad has identification numbers that can't be erased, calling the cops, reporting the theft and giving the names, since she knew them, would have gotten her IPad back and resulted in charges for theft and assault, she must have been bruised up being dragged from a car 50 feet by her hair, as she claimed.

 

[bluesneakers]

3 Suspects In Death Of 2 Montgomery Co. Students Appear In Court

The mystery surrounding the brutal murders of two Maryland high school students continues to unravel.
...
A judge called the three suspects &#8216;dangers to the community,&#8217; and ordered them held behind bars.
...
&#8220;The truth behind all this I believe people are hiding things. I believe that bad people are hiding things. They&#8217;re covering up something. And I think it was a plan since the beginning,&#8221; says Shadi&#8217;s mother Tina Najjar.

Three Men Held Without Bond in Northwest High School Murders

The three men police arrested and charged Saturday night in connection with the murder of two Northwest High School students are to be held without bond after a bond hearing Monday.
...
[Montgomery County Police Chief Tom] Manger said then police executed a search warrant on GarciaGaona&#8217;s residence in Gaithersburg and found a box of Blazer .40 caliber shells, which were some of the same shell casings police found at the crime scene in Montgomery Village.
...
All three men face multiple life sentences if convicted.

Next hearing is schedule for July 14th.