Local teenager charged in murder case

A former Silver Spring International Middle School student has been charged as an adult with second-degree murder for the death of his brother-in-law. According to the Silver Spring Gazetter Online newspaper, the man received a fatal stab wound from the teenager after trying to stop an argument between the adolescent and another man.

According to a Montgomery County Department of Police press release, on September 14 at approximately 2:30 a.m., police arrived at the Northwest Park community in Silver Spring to find Herber Sain Gonzalez , age 23, "suffering from a single stab wound." Efforts to revive the man with CPR proved unsuccessful.

A September 17 Silver Spring Gazette Online article reports that a group of people, including suspects Delmer Arnold Hernandez, 16, of Silver Spring and Edwin Escobar, 22, had gathered at a friend's house to watch a wrestling match and drink beer. After the match, an argument between Hernandez and Escobar ensued.

According to the Gazette article, Escobar left the apartment and returned with a machete. Police believe that Escobar started the argument and he has been charged with openly carrying a weapon with intent to do physical harm, and reckless endangerment.

Although the machete was taken from Escobar, Hernandez obtained a kitchen knife and attempted to attack Escobar, according to the Gazette.

Gonzalez attempted to stop the fight, and held back Hernandez while Escobar fled the residence. While holding back Hernandez, Gonzalez was stabbed by his brother-in-law.

Authorities stated in the police press release, that Hernandez confessed to the stabbing of Gonzalez. Both Escobar and Hernandez were apprehended by police and taken to the Montgomery County Detention Center.