Suspect connected to alleged 2025 Montgomery County murder-for-hire case arrested, police say
Man charged with murder for allegedly hiring hitman in Montgomery County killing
A man was charged with murder for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill a man in Montgomery County.
SILVER SPRING, Md. - Authorities have arrested a man in connection with an alleged 2025 murder-for-hire homicide in Montgomery County.
What we know:
On March 8, 2025, around 11:04 a.m., officers responded to the 2700 block of Fairdale Terrace for a reported shooting. Police found 23‑year‑old Jonah Kimindu Mutua of Silver Spring in a parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. He later died.
Homicide detectives identified 23‑year‑old Douglas David Lacey as the shooter. Lacey was arrested in April 2025 and remains in custody.
As the investigation continued, detectives said they uncovered evidence showing that 23‑year‑old Bekine Tibebu Ayele, of Burtonsville, conspired with Lacey to kill Mutua. Police allege Ayele hired Lacey to carry out the shooting.
Ayele is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill Kimindu Mutua. He was ordered to be held without bond during a court hearing Tuesday.
Dig deeper:
According to court documents, text messages from Lacey's phone describe him wanting to be like a famous movie hitman, saying his hitman business is picking up.
Prosecutors said Ayele gave Lacey the victim's photo, location and details about what car he would be in. It's not clear how much money was exchanged for the alleged hit.
"The General Assembly in Maryland has specifically made the person who hires someone for a murder to be guilty of first degree murder, so you don't have to be the one pulling the trigger," said criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Paul Kemp, who is not involved in the case.
"I suspect one of these people will end up testifying against the other, because I know the state wants to have the strongest case it can possibly have against whichever defendant wants to go to trial," Kemp added.
Ayele is scheduled to appear for another court hearing on Sept. 25. Lacey's trial is scheduled to begin in two weeks.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Source: Information in this article comes from Montgomery County Police.