In the early hours of Saturday morning, a man was discovered dead inside a public parking garage in Silver Spring, Maryland. The police were called to the scene after receiving reports of gunfire. The incident occurred just as Montgomery County was preparing to implement parking fees on Saturdays, a change aimed at funding improved safety measures in parking facilities. The victim has been identified as Kymani Elijah Bailey, a 21-year-old resident of Baltimore.
Montgomery County Police responded to multiple calls reporting gunshots in a parking garage near Thayer and Silver Spring avenues at around 3 a.m. on Saturday. Upon arrival at Parking Garage 3, officers discovered a man with a gunshot wound on the first floor. Sadly, the victim, identified as Kymani Elijah Bailey, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are now actively searching for a suspect and investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The shooting incident took place on the same day that Montgomery County planned to introduce parking fees for Saturdays. Previously, parking in public garages in Bethesda and Silver Spring was free on Saturdays. The revenue generated from the new fees will be used to enhance safety and security measures in downtown Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Wheaton. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation stated that the funds will be allocated towards improved lighting and surveillance cameras in parking facilities.
This tragic incident follows a previous homicide in December, where a husband and father of three was killed in the Wayne Avenue parking garage, located in downtown Silver Spring. The county’s decision to implement parking fees on Saturdays is part of an effort to prevent future incidents and ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and authorities are working diligently to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.