On December 5, 2025, authorities confirmed that a shooting victim from Silver Spring had died more than three months after the incident, prompting prosecutors to evaluate whether more serious charges should now be filed. What was initially handled as an attempted murder case is under review as a potential first-degree murder, following new developments in the investigation.
According to officials in Montgomery County, the incident occurred on June 19, 2025, at approximately 1 p.m. in the 30 block of Hunters Gate Court. When officers responded to the scene, they found 40-year-old Derrick Jones suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders transported him to a nearby trauma facility for urgent medical treatment. At the time of the shooting, Jones was able to identify the individual responsible for the attack, naming the suspect as Julian Rogers, the 20-year-old son of Jones’s girlfriend.
Following the identification, police issued an immediate lookout for Rogers. He was located shortly thereafter in the same area and was taken into custody without incident. During the arrest, officers recovered a privately manufactured 9-millimeter handgun equipped with an extended magazine, along with a live round chambered in the firearm. The weapon’s recovery was documented as part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances of the shooting.
Jones survived the initial attack but remained in medical care for an extended period. On September 28, 2025, detectives were informed that he had passed away while being treated at a rehabilitation facility. Upon review, the Office of the Medical Examiner concluded that his death was a result of homicide, attributing it directly to the injuries sustained during the June shooting.
With this new determination, state prosecutors are now assessing whether the charges originally filed against Rogers should be elevated. The transition from an attempted murder case to a possible first-degree murder prosecution underscores the seriousness of the incident and the evolving nature of the investigation as authorities work to determine the appropriate legal response.
