Crime & Safety

Update: Gunman Dead; Found In Rockville Home

Montgomery County Police are reporting that Joseph Phillip Gilberti is dead.

The manhunt is over.

Montgomery County Police reported that Joseph Phillip Gilberti was found dead inside a home on the 800 block of Fordham Street in Rockville around 10:30 p.m.

Gilberti, 51, spent the day fleeing from police after he shot his soon-to-be ex-wife in his minivan and threw her out onto Connecticut Avenue in Kensington shortly after 9:30 a.m.

Find out what's happening in Kensingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The victim was later identified as Heather Lynn McGuire, a 36-year-old mother of six from Rockville. McGuire and Gilberti were in the midst of getting a divorce.

Police reported to the scene of the Rockville home nearly 12 hours after the initial shooting when they received a tip about Gilberti's presence in the home. When they finally entered the home, they found Gilberti dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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To see how this story unfolded, read our updates below. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook for updates as we see them.

Update, 10:50 p.m.: Montgomery County Police are reporting that Gilberti is dead, after barricading himself in a Rockville home.

said Gilberti had a "signficant" criminal history. "I’m just glad we were able to resolve this case without further loss of life," Manger said.

Stay tuned to Patch for updates.

Update, 9:58 p.m. Patch Editor Sebastian Montes, on scene at the 1700 block of Yale Place near , reports there are approximately 100 emergency personnel on scene. Police have staged a mobile command center on school grounds.

Authorities still have not indicated which address near the school the SWAT team is targeting.

Update, 9:39 p.m. A Montgomery County Police spokeswoman said residents returning home near in Rockville are not able to do so at this time. Certain streets near the school are on lock-down as a SWAT team has mobilized in the area.

Residents already at home have not been evacuated, the police spokeswoman said.

Updated, 9:27 p.m.: , after they received a lead related to the fatal shooting in Kensington.

A SWAT team gathering at .

Update, 8:30 p.m.: Police have identified the victim from Tuesday morning's fatal shooting as Heather Lynn McGuire, a 36-year-old mother of three from Rockville and wife of the suspected shooter.

McGuire was in the middle of divorce proceedings from her estranged husband, who police believe to be the gunman.

Montgomery County Police Department have issued an arrest warrant for 51-year-old Joseph Phillip Gilberti who they are charging with first-degree murder. Police warn residents not to approach him if they spot him because he may be armed.

Gilberti was last seen fleeing from the scene of the shooting at Connecticut and Knowles avenues. Gilberti is 6 feet tall, about 250 pounds and was last seen wearing a red shirt, dark colored jeans, dark boots and carrying a dark duffle bag. NBCWashington is reporting he has black hair, blue eyes and a scorpion tattoo on his neck. 

Police were called to the scene of the shooting at about 9:39 a.m., where they found a female victim dead from a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Police report she was pushed out of the vehicle after she was shot. Initially reports released by police and other media stated the victim was transported to a local hopital and was critically injured.

Witnesses reported seeing a man fleeing from the scene in a gray or green minivan with MD Tag 47360M6. Witnesses also reported a variety of sequences to police.

Earlier, police searched an Aspen Hill home for clues as they believe Gilberti frequented the property.

A former professional boxer, Gilberti has a history of violence in Nevada, according to ABC7.

Court records show Gilberti was charged with attempted murder and battery. He served 10 years in prison in Las Vegas. He also had several protective orders served against him, the latest from Nov. 14, 2011 that was for a full year.

According to WTOP, Gilberti was arrested Saturday for breaking the protective order and released Monday.

Police are asking that anyone with information on Gilberti call 911.

Update, 1:46 p.m.: Montgomery County Police confirmed the female victim shot Tuesday morning in Kensington was killed, according to WUSA9.

Police are still searching for the suspect, who they believe fled from the scene in a gray or green colored minivan— MD Tag 47360M6.

Update, 11:42 a.m.: Montgomery County Police are searching a home on the 4600 block of Hallet Place in Aspen Hill, which they believe could have information about the people involved in the shooting, a police spokeswoman said.

They cannot confirm whether the home is that of the suspect or the victim.

Update, 11:24 a.m.: Police are searching for the gunman involved in a shooting that left one woman critically injured.

Police believe the suspect is wearing a red shirt and driving a green Dodge Minivan with MD Tag 47360M6, according to ABC7, although a number of sequences were reported by witnesses.

ABC7 reported that the woman was shot as she tried to leave the vehicle during an argument.

Original Post, 10:16 a.m.: One person is facing life-threatening injuries this morning after being shot while in the area of Connecticut and Knowles avenues, according to Montgomery County Police.

Police got multiple calls about the shooting that happened around 9:39 a.m. and are still on the scene.

Callers said the victim was lying in the roadway, according to Montgomery County Police Officer Rebecca Innocenti. That victim was transported to a nearby hospital.

The northbound and southbound lanes of Connecticut Avenue are closed at Knowles Road due to the investigation, according to Alert Montgomery.

Patch will update the story when more information becomes available.

Krista Brick and Sebastian Montes contributed to this report.

Editor's Note: In a previous version of this post we misidentified the number of children Heather L. McGuire had. We apologize for our error.


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