Mom Asks Why No Arrests in Son's Aspen Hill Shooting

A Montgomery County mother says police have given up on finding her son’s killers, and she’s asking the public for help bringing them to justice.

Alexander Benson Buie, 34, of Aspen Hill, was shot during a scuffle after three armed men forced their way inside a halfway house in the 13400 block of Grenoble Drive, Montgomery County police said in a news release Thursday.

When police arrived at around 11 p.m., they found Buie suffering from at least one gunshot wound.   

Buie died of his injuries at a local hospital, police said.

Police dogs searched the neighborhood but were not able to find the assailants.

Buie's mother, Kay Billups, a retired businesswoman, told WJLA TV her son had struggled with alcohol throughout his 20s and 30s. But she says the 1998 Thomas Stone High School graduate had turned his life around. Buie had been sober for 11 months when he was shot and killed, possibly over money he was saving to buy a new car.

"We knew he had recovered," Billups told the ABC station. "He looked so good. He was doing so well, and he was so proud of the work that he had done to get there."

Buie worked as a lifeguard at the West Hillandale Swim Club in Silver Spring during the summers.

The property where he lived at the time of his death was registered as a ""Sober Living Home" with Intervention America, WTOP reports. A neighbor told WTOP that the residence had a reputation for unusual incidents.

There were witnesses to the shooting, including a roommate who helped investigators create a black-and-white composite sketch for one suspect. But more than eight months have since passed with no arrests. Billups told the TV station that detectives no longer return her phones calls or emails.

"My question to Montgomery County Police is, 'Why haven't these men been arrested and brought to justice?'" Billups said.

Montgomery County's Major Crimes Division told WJLA it continues to pursue the Buie case, which remains open. While investigators are not releasing new leads to the public, they vow to be committed to solving the case.

"Our Major Crimes investigators ... are steadfast, professional, and invest countless hours behind the scenes examining evidence, developing leads and conducting interviews,” said Lt. Greg Wise, deputy director of the Major Crimes Division. “While we are always sensitive to the victims’ families’ need for information, we cannot divulge specific details that may result in a suspect remaining free or negatively impact a prosecution. Ultimately, the apprehension and successful prosecution must come first.”

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There are currently three suspects in the case—all black males. The first suspect is in his 20s and is about 6 feet tall. He has curly hair and a mustache, and was last seen wearing camouflage pants. The second suspect is also in his 20s and wore dark clothing. The third suspect, described as the tallest of the trio, wore all black clothing and a black bandana on his face.

Police have asked anyone with information about this case is asked to call detectives at 240-773-5070.  Tips received through the Crime Solvers program may be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.