On Sunday night, a Bethesda restaurant owner, Myo Maung, encountered a harrowing experience when he was allegedly followed by a group from Washington, D.C. to Maryland in what authorities believe was an attempted carjacking of his Porsche. The incident unfolded outside Maung’s restaurant, Zao Stamina Ramen, located off Wisconsin Avenue in Downtown Bethesda. According to Maung, he was pistol-whipped and sought refuge inside his restaurant during the altercation. He reported hearing at least one gunshot fired during the incident.
Maung revealed to FOX 5 that the suspects demanded his phone and password while insisting he surrender his car keys. Disturbing footage obtained from Maung’s dashcam captures a reddish-colored Nissan SUV pulling up to his Porsche on Wisconsin Avenue. The video shows at least three suspects exiting the SUV, with one brandishing what appears to be a firearm. Another segment of the video shows a suspect pointing a gun toward Maung’s Porsche from the front passenger window.
Despite the apparent threat, the suspects failed to flee with the Porsche, as they were reportedly unfamiliar with operating a stick shift. Captain Sean Gagan, head of Montgomery County Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, acknowledged that the county has witnessed incidents of people being trailed and targeted for their vehicles. Gagan emphasized that Montgomery County is not immune to the carjacking issues prevalent in the neighboring District of Columbia.
According to Gagan, Montgomery County police have responded to approximately 82 carjackings this year, with 79 reported in 2022. In response to the growing issue, additional police resources have been deployed to areas bordering Washington D.C. and Prince George’s County. Gagan urged residents to stay vigilant, emphasizing the importance of being aware of their surroundings to deter potential criminals. The authorities also revealed that the reddish-colored Nissan SUV involved in the incident had been reported stolen in D.C. on the same day as the attempted carjacking.