Police said officers encountered the man near a bus stop Sunday night after seeing him loading a firearm.
GAITHERSBURG, MD — Montgomery County police officers shot and killed a man Sunday night at Montgomery Village Plaza after police said he was seen loading a gun near a bus stop.
The shooting prompted a large police response to the shopping center on Contour Road. Officers from the Montgomery County and Gaithersburg police departments secured part of the plaza as investigators began collecting evidence and examining the circumstances that led to the gunfire.
Police described the man as acting suspiciously before officers approached him. Authorities had not publicly released a detailed account of the encounter, including what commands officers gave, whether the man pointed or fired the weapon, or how many officers discharged their guns.
The man was taken for medical treatment after the shooting but died from his injuries, according to local news reports. His name, age and place of residence had not been released as of Monday. Officials generally withhold a person’s identity until relatives have been notified.
No officers were reported injured. Police also had not disclosed the names of the officers involved, how long they had served with the department or whether they had been placed on administrative leave. Such leave is a common step during investigations of police shootings but had not been confirmed in this case.
A substantial section of Montgomery Village Plaza was closed with crime-scene tape Sunday night. Authorities also restricted access along part of Contour Road while investigators documented the scene. The shopping center is in Montgomery Village near Gaithersburg.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office is expected to oversee the investigation. Under Maryland law, the office’s Independent Investigations Division investigates deaths involving police officers when an officer’s actions may have contributed to the death.
Investigators are expected to review body-worn camera recordings, physical evidence, police radio traffic and any available surveillance video. Officials had not said when video or additional details might be released.
The investigation remained active Monday. Authorities had not announced whether the man’s firearm was recovered, identified the officers who fired or provided a complete sequence of events preceding the shooting.
Author note: Last updated July 13, 2026.