Windows Shot Out at Local Synagogue, School, Businesses

Update, 8:26 p.m.: Police released information about vandalism at Julius West Middle School that they believe could be connected to the vandalism at Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah and two other local businesses.

Rockville City Police responded to the school, located at 651 Great Falls Rd. in Rockville, at 1:29 a.m. to find six windows damaged by shots, apparently from a BB gun. At 6 a.m., officers from the 1st District Police Department responded to calls about vandalism at the two businesses at the Potomac Woods Shopping Center. The 1st District officers then responded to Beth Sholom Congregation at 7:30 a.m.

Police obtained surveillance photographs from Potomac Woods Shopping Center that show a gold two-door vehicle in the area at the time these vandalisms occurred. 

Anyone with information regarding the incident can call the Montgomery County Police tip line at 240-773-TIPS (8477) or 866-411-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for these crimes.

Update, 4:05 p.m.: The Montgomery County Police Department is investigating Sunday night's shooting at as a possible hate crime.

Six or seven windows were shot out with a BB gun on the night before Passover, which begins Monday at sunset.

"Maybe the suspects didn't realize the proximity to Passover, but for now, we are investigating it as a possible hate crime," said Officer Howard Hersh, a police spokesperson.

The windows had been shot with a BB gun at Lacy Couture Apparel, 1081 Seven Locks Road, and Robert Bernard Jewelers, 1079 Seven Locks Road, on Sunday night, Hersh said. Both businesses are located in the Potomac Woods Shopping Center.

Estimated damage to the synagogue and businesses total several thousand dollars, Hersh said.

Police obtained video surveillance from the businesses and will evaluate it in the coming days for leads.

Update, 2:02 p.m.: Several windows were shot out at some time on Sunday night.

The synagogue, located on Seven Locks Road, had eight windows shot out by a BB gun, according to a story on NBC Washington’s website. No one was in the synagogue at the time of the shooting and there are no reported injuries, according to the story.

Police responded to the synagogue on Monday at 8 a.m. and found eight BB’s at the scene, according to the story.

Police are also looking into additional vandalism that happened on Sunday night at two businesses in the nearby shopping center.