Crime & Safety

Damascus Man Charged With Murder in Gaithersburg Hit-and-Run Death

Fernando Josue Valenzuela has been charged with first degree murder and attempted second-degree murder following the hit-and-run death in Gaithersburg.

A hit-and-run death in Gaithersburg has led to murder charges against a Damascus resident.

Fernando Josue Valenzuela, 20, of the unit block of Valley Park Court, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder, according to Montgomery County District Court records accessed online.

The charges are in connection to a Dec. 5 vehicle-related homicide near 211 W. Diamond Ave. Valenzuela is accused of running down and killing Billie Jay Genies, 34, of the 12600 block of Tobytown Drive in Potomac and is also accused of targeting Genies' brother, James R. Genies, 35, of Potomac.

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James Genies reportedly told police that he and his brother were given a ride by some people in a black Honda Civic. But a dispute occurred between the brothers and the driver as they were getting out of the vehicle, near Gaitherstowne Plaza at Frederick and Odendhal Avenues.

As a result of the dispute, police claim, the driver trawled through Gaithersburg looking for the brothers and, upon finding them, intentionally struck them as they were walking west on Diamond Avenue.

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Police said the driver left the scene and abandoned the car.

Valenzuela was arrested Thursday and held without bail in Montgomery County jail, awaiting a 1 p.m. court hearing Friday.


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