John Carlos Natera-Perez, 30

Silver Spring, Maryland
July 25, 2018

Agencies: Montgomery County Department of Police - Maryland

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: over 3 years ago

Overview

30-year-old John Carlos Natera-Perez died Wednesday, according to Montgomery police. His body was taken to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Perez was critically wounded Monday evening after he barricaded himself in his ex-girlfriend’s townhouse and, armed with a knife, went into a bedroom with their 3-year-old son. He began writing on windows with his fingers in what appeared to be blood, officials said.

He had been in grave condition since Tuesday.

As the situation unfolded Monday night off Mozart Drive in the Fairland area of Silver Spring, police negotiators tried for more than an hour to convince Perez to release the boy and come out, according to authorities. Officials said that officers moved in on the home after they saw Perez toss a burning object from a window and as the boy could be heard screaming.

The boy was not injured. Perez’s ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend, who were also in the home at the time, managed to escape.

Officials said the officer involved in the shooting is Edward Cochran, an eight-year veteran of the department and member of the SWAT team. 

Legal Action

In October 2018, Prosecutors determined that the officer's actions killing Natera-Perez had saved the three year-old's life.