Officers Locate 3 Guns In Car During Stop In Germantown

GERMANTOWN, MD — Four suspects were arrested on firearm and assault-related charges during a traffic stop in Germantown Wednesday, Montgomery County Police announced.

Police were called to the 13500 block of Demetrias Way for the report of several shots that had been fired into a residence at about 9:45 a.m. Wednesday.

The home was occupied but no residents were injured, police said.

Witnesses reported to police that they had observed a suspect shoot into the home and then enter a white Toyota Scion driven by another suspect. The vehicle fled from the area.

At about 11:55 p.m. that night, officers observed a white Scion parked at a gas station in the 19700 block of Germantown Rd.

Officers in unmarked police cruisers began following the car as it exited the gas station onto Germantown Road. An officer driving directly behind the Scion reported to other officers that a rear seat passenger was pointing a green laser through the rear windshield directly at him., police said.

A traffic stop was initiated near the intersection of Century Boulevard and Town Commons Drive.

Officers located a loaded, .45 caliber handgun lying on the Scion’s rear passenger floorboard area near where Damarco Morrow, 19, of DC had been sitting.

A loaded, 9mm handgun was found concealed in a tool bag in the rear center area of the vehicle. The gun had a green laser and officers determined this was the firearm that had been pointed at the officer.

Another .40 caliber handgun was found under the front passenger seat, police said.

Jordan Becraft, 20, of Germantown was the driver, police said.

Morrow and Lynden S. Lawson, 19, of Germantown were charged with firearm-related offenses as a result of the traffic stop in Germantown.

Joseph E. Pinto, 22, of Gaithersburg was charged with firearm and assault-related offenses related to the traffic stop in Germantown and related to the shooting that had occurred on Demetrias Way.

Pinto was further charged with assault-related charges after it was determined that he was the suspect who had pointed the handgun with the laser sight through the rear windshield of the Scion and at the officer, police said.

Morrow and Lawson were both released after posting a $5,000 bond. Becraft was released after posting a $10,000 bond. Pinto is currently being held without bond, police said.

Photos: Joseph Pinto, top left; Jordan Becraft, top right; Lynden S. Lawson, bottom left; Damarco Morrow, bottom right via MCPD