Two Charged In Shooting Death Of 18-Year-Old In Gaithersburg

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Two people are facing charges in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old in Gaithersburg, according to police.

Kevin Jesus Perez Fierro, 20, of Montgomery Village, and a 16-year-old boy from Gaithersburg have been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the death of Taeyon Malachi Prather, Montgomery County police said in a statement.

Around 7:20 p.m. on Jan. 2, police were called to the 23600 block of Rolling Fork Way for a report of a person down in a parking lot. When authorities arrived, Prather was found at the location and pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators later learned that Prather had gone to the location to sell a jacket. At some point during the transaction, Prather was shot. According to police, the jacket and other personal items were taken following the shooting.

On Jan. 5, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County received a tip that led investigators to the 16-year-old suspect. Through continued investigation, detectives also connected Perez Fierro to Prather’s death.

On Sunday, arrest warrants were obtained for both suspects, police said. A day later, Perez Fierro was taken into custody at his home in Montgomery Village, and the 16-year-old suspect was arrested at his home in Gaithersburg.

Both suspects are being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit while they await bond hearings.