The 17-year-old is charged as an adult after a 13-year-old boy was wounded near a children’s play area.
WHEATON, MD — A judge ordered a 17-year-old boy held without bond Monday after prosecutors accused him of opening fire inside Westfield Wheaton Mall and wounding a 13-year-old near a children’s play area.
Diego Rafael Turcios Avalos, of Silver Spring, faces attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and several firearm charges. A judge found that he posed a danger to the community but granted a defense request allowing him to be housed in a juvenile facility rather than an adult jail while the case proceeds.
Montgomery County police said officers were sent to the mall at 11160 Veirs Mill Road shortly before 6 p.m. Friday, July 31, after reports of an active shooter. Emergency dispatchers received more than 23 calls from people reporting that someone dressed in black was firing at people on the mall’s second level.
Investigators said surveillance video showed Turcios Avalos sitting at a table near a Cinnabon when a group of teenagers walked past him at about 5:58 p.m. Police allege that he stood up, displayed a handgun and fired toward the group. Authorities have not released a motive or said whether the injured boy was specifically targeted.
The 13-year-old was struck in the ankle near the Cinnabon and an indoor play area where children and adults were gathered. Responding officers applied a tourniquet before the boy was taken to a hospital. Police said his injuries were not considered life-threatening and that he was expected to recover.
Police said Turcios Avalos ran toward a Dick’s Sporting Goods store after the gunfire. An armed mall security officer saw him carrying a gun, ordered him to the floor and held him until county officers arrived. Police said they recovered a black 9 mm handgun.
Prosecutors said during Monday’s hearing that the gun jammed during the shooting, possibly preventing more shots from being fired. The allegation has not been tested at trial. Turcios Avalos is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
In addition to attempted murder and assault, Turcios Avalos is charged with using a firearm during a violent felony, carrying a loaded handgun and possessing a firearm as a minor. The public defender’s office said he is a junior at James Hubert Blake High School and has experienced social and emotional difficulties.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said the case raises broader questions about balancing services for young defendants with public safety. Because Turcios Avalos is a minor, officials have released limited information about his personal history and court proceedings.
Turcios Avalos remained in custody without bond Tuesday. Police said the investigation was continuing, and authorities had not announced a motive or disclosed whether investigators believe the shooting followed an earlier dispute.
Author note: Last updated August 4, 2026.