Montgomery County, MD – An eighteen-year-old, Joseph De-La-Paz, has been arrested in connection with two carjackings that occurred in November 2023. Montgomery County Police Department’s Major Crimes Division led the investigation leading to the arrest.
The first incident, a strong-arm carjacking, occurred on November 7 at around 7:42 p.m. in the 3100 block of McMahon Road. The victim, an adult female, was at her vehicle’s trunk when approached by five male suspects dressed in black and wearing ski masks. One suspect brandished a handgun, while another displayed a knife, demanding the car keys to her 2013 Nissan Sentra and her cellphone, which she complied with before they fled in her vehicle.
The second incident, an armed carjacking, took place on November 8 at approximately 9:15 p.m. near Leonard Court. In this instance, the adult female victim was in her 2017 Honda Pilot when three masked young Black males approached. Two suspects, armed with handguns, demanded the victim drive them to her bank. The victim managed to escape and call the police, while the suspects left in her vehicle.
Detectives identified De-La-Paz as one of the suspects involved in these crimes. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to search for additional suspects. The Montgomery County Police Department requests anyone with information to come forward to aid in the investigation.