A Clarksburg man already facing a murder charge in Virginia has been linked to two incidents at Montgomery County mosques, police said.
By Alessia Grunberger, Patch Staff | Apr 8, 2019 8:38 am ET | Updated Apr 8, 2019 8:39 am ET
GERMANTOWN, MD — A Clarksburg man already facing a murder charge in connection with a hit-and-run in Virginia has been linked to two incidents at mosques in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Police say they have connected 29-year-old Muhammad Taha to crimes in Gaithersburg and Germantown — one was on March 22 and the other was on March 24. He has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and malicious destruction of property. Both those incidents, according to authorities, preceded a fatal hit-and-run in Manassas, Va.
On March 22, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at the Islamic Center of Maryland, a mosque on Woodfield Road in Gaithersburg. The victim was taken to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Part of the incident was caught on surveillance video. Police said they also obtained a description of the vehicle and evidence at the scene.
Two days later, police were called to the Islamic Society of Germantown at 19825 Blunt Rd. for the report of a suspicious situation. According to authorities, Taha was seen circling the mosque’s parking lot in his vehicle before he got out and used a brick to vandalize a car. He reportedly fled the scene after striking another parked vehicle.
Police said Taha then traveled to Manassas, Va. and intentionally struck 66-year-old Shamsa Begum, who lated died in hospital.Subscribe
Taha was later arrested by Prince William County Sheriffs at a convenience store on Dumfries Road. He was charged with second-degree murder, felony hit-and-run, and other charges related to the incident.
Authorities say Taha is in the Prince William County Adult Detention Center on a no bond status.
