Silver Spring Shooting: Man Charged In Connection With 2021 Case

SILVER SPRING, MD — A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a downtown Silver Spring shooting in December, Montgomery County Police said. No one was injured in the shooting — bullets hit several nearby businesses, police said at the time.

John Tomlinson, 29, was arrested after leaving Society Restaurant & Lounge in downtown Silver Spring Jan. 31, police said. A police news release says Tomlinson tried to flee from officers but was arrested. There were two firearms in his car that had been reported as stolen in Virginia, police said.

Police say that on the night of the shooting Tomlinson saw someone drive into his friend's parked car on Mayor Lane and when the friend got into a fight with the driver, Tomlinson went down the street to get a gun from another car. Authorities say Tomlinson fired the gun and struck the driver's car, several businesses and a street sign.

He was charged with firearm possession with felony conviction, having a loaded handgun in vehicle and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, police said. He is being held without bail.