Police said the officer stopped an armed 17-year-old after a 13-year-old was shot near the mall’s food court.
WHEATON, Md. — A store security officer detained an armed teenager moments after gunfire wounded a 13-year-old boy inside Wheaton Mall, holding the suspect until Montgomery County police arrived, authorities said.
The intervention followed a shooting at about 6 p.m. Friday, July 31, in a busy area near a Cinnabon and a children’s play space. Police said a 17-year-old fired toward a group of teenagers, striking the younger boy in the ankle and sending shoppers and workers running for safety.
Investigators said the alleged shooter fled toward the mall’s Dick’s Sporting Goods store. An armed security officer encountered the teenager, saw the gun and detained him. Police arrived soon afterward and took him into custody. Authorities said a firearm was recovered during the response.
Police identified the teenager as Diego Rafael Turcios Avalos of Silver Spring. He has been charged as an adult with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and several firearm offenses. The charges are accusations, and prosecutors would be required to prove them in court.
The wounded 13-year-old was treated with a tourniquet and transported to a hospital. Police said he was stable and expected to survive. His identity was withheld because he is a minor, and authorities did not release additional information about his recovery.
The location and timing of the shooting increased the danger to other visitors. Police said children were using the nearby play area when the shots were fired. The mall was busy with families, teenagers, employees and other shoppers at the start of the weekend.
After the shooting, police tape blocked access to parts of the food court as investigators documented the scene. Items left behind during the rush to escape remained on the mall floor. No other injuries were reported by authorities.
Police said surveillance footage showed Turcios Avalos seated near the food court before a group of teenagers passed him. Investigators allege he then stood, pulled out a handgun and fired. Authorities have not disclosed what happened before that moment or what may have prompted the gunfire.
The rapid detention kept the suspect at the mall and allowed officers to take him into custody soon after the shooting. Police have not released the security officer’s name or provided further details about the encounter inside the sporting goods store.
Investigators continued reviewing video and other evidence Sunday. No additional suspects had been announced, and police had not released information about a possible motive, the origin of the recovered firearm or the defendant’s next court appearance.
Author note: Last updated August 2, 2026.