MARYLAND –Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division have arrested a Germantown man for Attempted 1st Degree Murder and additional charges related to an incident that occurred on April 15, 2019, in Germantown.
On April 15, the suspect, identified as Zain Imdad, age 28. of Germantown, entered a residence in the 14000 block of Jump Drive in Germantown, where the female adult victim was residing. The victim had a protective order against Imdad, with whom she had a previous relationship. Imdad proceeded to take the victim and other family members within the household hostage, threatening them with a handgun. Imdad was allegedly distraught over the ending of the relationship with the victim, and informed the victim and other family members that he was going to kill everyone if the victim did not reconcile the relationship. Imdad also told the victim and family that he would kill them if the police showed up and then shoot the police. One of the family members was able to notify police of the incident via the Emergency Communications Systems (911).
Officers from the 5th District responded and evaluated the situation. Though facing an armed suspect threatening to kill the victim and family, officers placed themselves in peril by making immediate entry and confronting Imdad, who was now holding the victim with a knife to her throat. Officers were able to wrestle the weapon away from Imdad, arrest him, and free the victim and her family.
Further investigation found that Imdad had brought a backpack with him to the residence containing a suicide intention note, a black replica handgun, a fixed blade knife, duct tape, five pairs of handcuffs, para-cord, and bottles containing an unknown substance. Imdad had told the victim and family that we was planning to kill them then drink poison. The substance in the bottles was removed and being analyzed for their content.
Without the assistance of the family members and the immediate action by the responding officers, the outcomes achieved during this incident could have been very different.
Zain Imdad was charged with the following:
Attempted 1st Degree Murder (5 counts)
Attempted 2nd Degree Murder (5 counts)
1st Degree Assault (5 counts)
2nd Degree Assault (5 counts)
Home Invasion
Violation of a Protection Order
Reckless Endangerment (5 counts)
Carrying a Concealed Dangerous Weapon
Possession of a Dangerous Weapon w/ Intent to Injure
