Nineteen-Year-Old Charged in Connection with Damascus Murder; Primary Suspect Still Wanted

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Gaithersburg, MD – A 19-year-old from Damascus has been arrested and charged with murder, in connection with a Father’s Day homicide.

Khamani Imes was arrested on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, for allegedly giving a gun to Isaiah Brown-Hawkins that was used in the homicide of 33-year-old James Joel Austin on Sunday, June 18 .

The 16-year-old allegedly shot Austin and then drove away in the victim’s Honda that was located in Washington, DC. Brown-Hawkins was not with the vehicle and has not been found.

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Imes was taken into custody at his Bethesda Church Road home where Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes detectives, with the assistance of the MCPD SWAT Unit, executed a search warrant. A firearm was recovered during a search of the residence.

Imes was placed under arrest for underage possession of a firearm and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he was also charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy.

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He is being held without bond.

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Release ID: 23-458
Media Contact:
Categories: homicide

For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail_Pol.aspx?Item_ID=43802