FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 410-576-7009
BALTIMORE, MD – Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced
his decision not to seek charges in the September fatal officer-involved shooting in Wheaton,
Montgomery County, Maryland.
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, at approximately 7:53 p.m., officers with the Montgomery
County Police Department responded to the 3400 block of Janet Road after receiving a 911 call
for an assault in progress. Upon arrival, officers encountered a group of people shouting and
pointing at a man, later identified as Melvin Omar Chavez-Paz. Chavez-Paz was observed
walking from a backyard holding a silver oblong object in his right hand. The first responding
officer, Montgomery County Police Corporal Cody Hobbs, shouted commands at Chavez-Paz to
“drop the knife,” but Chavez-Paz did not comply. Instead, he crossed the street and walked
toward the group of civilians as Corporal Hobbs continued to instruct him to drop the knife.
Corporal Hobbs discharged his service weapon and struck Chavez-Paz. Officers immediately
rendered emergency medical aid and called for emergency medical services. Chavez-Paz was
pronounced dead on scene. A grill fork was recovered near Chavez-Paz’s body.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) began investigating the fatal
officer-involved shooting on Saturday, September 21, 2024, and concluded its investigation on
May 20, 2025. After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the
Office of the Attorney General has determined that Corporal Hobbs did not commit a crime
under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute the involved
officer in this case.
A copy of the IID’s detailed investigative findings and analysis of relevant legal issues can be
found in its declination report.
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