Crime & Safety

24-Year-Old Man Charged In Wheaton Murder: Police

Police said the suspect assaulted the 21-year-old victim with a baseball bat and knife. The victim was found dead in a Wheaton apartment.

Police said the suspect assaulted the 21-year-old victim with a baseball bat and knife. The victim was found dead in a Wheaton apartment.
Police said the suspect assaulted the 21-year-old victim with a baseball bat and knife. The victim was found dead in a Wheaton apartment. (Montgomery County Police)

WHEATON, MD — A Wheaton man has been arrested in connection with the killing of a 21-year-old on Friday, police said.

Jose Lara-Chacon has been charged with the first-degree murder of Dimer Josue Diaz Martinez, of an unconfirmed address. Montgomery County police said he assaulted Diaz Martinez with a baseball bat and knife in an apartment on Veirs Mill Road.

Authorities were called to the scene around 9:32 p.m. on Friday. Officers said they found the victim dead "from an apparent cutting injury to his neck." Lara-Chacon was in the apartment when police arrived.

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Upon further investigation, detectives determined that Lara-Chacon and Diaz Martinez were acquaintances. It is not immediately clear what lead up to the killing.

The victim's body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.

Find out what's happening in Wheatonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call police at 240-773-5070.

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