Killing In Rockville Over Marijuana Deal Gone Bad Leads To Conviction

ROCKVILLE, MD — A Silver Spring man was found guilty of second-degree murder by a Montgomery County jury on Friday in the fatal shooting of a man in Rockville in February 2022.

Malik Jefferson, 24, was convicted on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence, and robbery.

Jefferson faces a maximum of 75 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 8, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.

“This is yet another case of a marijuana deal gone bad in Montgomery County resulting in murder. The purchasing of marijuana within the black-market, which continues to exist despite legal changes that have taken place in the state of Maryland, remains extremely dangerous,” State’s Attorney John McCarthy said in a statement.

On Feb. 17, 2022, at the intersection of Bradley Avenue and Fletcher Place in Rockville, officers with Montgomery County Police and Rockville City Police found 22-year-old Jose Osvaldo Genao Romero, suffering from a gunshot wound. He later died at an area hospital.

Jefferson and his co-defendant, Jackson Garcia, 20, of Silver Spring, had picked up Genao Romero outside his home and drove him to the location of the killing, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.

A nearby surveillance camera captured the attack on video. A police investigation led to the arrests of the accused shooter, Jefferson, and Garcia.

Garcia was convicted by a jury last July on charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Garcia faces the potential of life in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 16.

RELATED: Rockville Murder Charges Filed Against Two Silver Spring Men