Bethesda Man Is Shot in Garage as He Arrives Home

A 53-year-old man who had just arrived at his Bethesda home was shot Thursday night in his garage, Montgomery County police said.

The man, who was not identified, was still in his car when he was shot about 7:30 p.m. He was taken to a hospital with injuries thought to be life-threatening, police spokeswoman Lucille Baur said.

Police said it was not clear whether the shooting was related to an attempted robbery.

"We have no evidence of that at this stage of the investigation, but we remain open to possibilities," Baur said.

The man was alone in the car, and it was not clear whether anyone else was at the house, in the 6800 block of Millwood Road.

An armed suspect who was wearing a mask and dark clothing was seen running from the home, south toward Goldsboro Road. Montgomery police searched the area with a helicopter, dogs and patrol officers, but the suspect was still at large late Thursday.

"We believe that it is more likely at this time that the suspect has left the area," Baur said.

Walt Whitman High School, which is about a half-mile from the scene of the shooting, was briefly on "code red" lockdown. An outdoor athletic event was allowed to proceed with increased police presence, Baur said.

Neighbors said a husband and wife live at the home, and the man works at the International Monetary Fund. The couple's two sons are away at college.

Michael Sullivan, who has lived on Millwood Road for 15 years, said the area is considered very safe.

"I don't think there's ever been a shooting around here that I know of," Sullivan, 57, said. "I haven't even heard about much in the way of housebreakings or stuff like that.

"If this could happen two doors down from us, it could happen anywhere," he said.

Yushin Sugita, 40, lives across the street from the scene of the shooting. He moved from Japan to Bethesda in June with his wife and two children.

"We're not used to living in this country, so we chose the safest area," Sugita said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the Montgomery police's Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.