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Police: Man in custody after firing gunshots from apartment balcony

The officers were responding to a report of gunshots in the 500 block S. Frederick Avenue early Tuesday.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — A man is in custody after firing shots from his balcony early Tuesday morning and police are investigating to find out exactly what happened, according to Gaithersburg City Police Department.

Gaithersburg Police Department Public Information Officer Dan Lane told WUSA9 that officers originally responded to the scene located on the 500 block of South Frederick Avenue for a check of welfare just after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Lane said officers tried several times to make contact with a 29-year-old man at the residence. He said they were able to get through the person and left the scene shortly after. 

Then just before 3 a.m., Montgomery County police officers alongside Gaithersburg City police returned to the 500 block of South Frederick Avenue for a report of the sound of gunshots in the area, Lane said.

Once officers arrived on the scene, police heard more gunshots, Lane said. A Montgomery County Police Department Public Information Officer said a man fired shots at the officers from an apartment complex balcony. Lanes said Gaithersburg police are unsure if the subject was targeting the officers or firing randomly. An Emergency Response Team, SWAT officers and negotiators were dispatched to the scene to assist with the situation, police said.

A short time later, the 29-year-old man from the earlier welfare call came out of his apartment and was taken into custody around 4 a.m., police said. He was taken to an area hospital.

No injuries were reported and Gaithersburg Police Department is leading the investigation.

Police shut down the 500 block of S. Frederick Avenue and the Walnut Hills Shopping Center at 16500 S. Frederick Avenue Tuesday morning to conduct their investigation, but all roads have since reopened.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about this shooting to contact Gaithersburg Police's Investigative Section at 301-258-6400. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the Gaithersburg Tip Line at 301-330-4471.

This is not the first time Gaithersburg officers have faced gunfire when responding to a call. Officers took gunfire from a person on a top floor balcony in the 300 block of N. Summit Avenue back in April. 

Video from that incident is found below:

No arrests have been made in the April shooting. WUSA9 is working to determine whether these two incidents may be related.

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