Charges will not be filed against a Montgomery County police officer who was involved in a fatal shooting in Wheaton last year.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown’s office determined that Corporal Cody Hobbs did not commit a crime under Maryland law and will not be prosecuted, according to a news release issued Tuesday.
On September 24, 2024 at 7:53 p.m., Montgomery County police officers responded to the 3400 block of Janet Road after receiving a 911 call for an assault in progress.
When police arrived, they encountered a group of people shouting and pointing at Melvin Omar Chavez-Paz, according to the news release. Chavez-Paz was seen walking from a backyard holding a silver oblong object in his right hand.
Hobbs continued to order him to drop the knife. Instead, Chavez-Paz crossed the street and walked toward a group of people.
Hobbs shot Chavez-Paz, who suffered seven gunshot wounds throughout his body, including three to his chest. There was no evidence of “close-range discharge” to any of the wounds, according to the Attorney General’s report.
He was pronounced dead on the scene. An autopsy determined that Chavez-Paz had a blood-alcohol rate of .34%.
