Rockville, MD – In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable J. Bradford McCullough, a jury found defendant Jeriel Martin, 35, of Silver Spring, guilty of second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a violent crime for the death of 34-year-old Jamar Jenifer. The jury returned its verdict on September 11, 2026.
Martin faces a maximum of 60 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 15, 2026.
On the morning of September 2, 2024, Montgomery County Police responded to a call for a man lying in a pool of blood in an alley in the area of the 8000 block of 13th Street in Silver Spring. The man, later identified as Jamar Jenifer, had been shot and was pronounced dead on the scene. A surveillance camera outside the Galaxy Apartments captured the shooting. The surveillance video shows a brief interaction between Jenifer and Martin. Jenifer walked by Martin, and the two exchanged words. Martin then stood up, walked toward Jenifer, produced a handgun, and opened fire. He shot Jenifer four times and then ran into the apartment building where he lived. Jenifer was not armed. The defendant and victim were known to each other, but a motive for the shooting has not been determined.
The defendant had previously been incarcerated for gun possession and was on probation at the time of the shooting. In a recorded conversation between Martin and a friend, Martin likened killing Jenifer to squashing a bug, stepping on an ant, or smacking a fly on the wall. The recording was played for the jury.
“This defendant displayed a stunning lack of remorse and outlook on the ability to take a life. Jamar Jenifer was a son, father, and brother. We will continue to seek justice for Mr. Jenifer and his family at sentencing,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Ian Dombroski are prosecuting this matter.
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Read the original article at mcgov
