Crime & Safety
Mount Airy, MD I-70 Drive-By: Man Convicted of Murder, 5 Attempted Murders in 2025 Shooting
MOUNT AIRY, MD — A Howard County man has been convicted of murder and five counts of attempted murder in connection with a deadly 2025 drive by shooting along Interstate 70 in Frederick County, Maryla
By Marcus Hale · 2026-10-13T20:00:37.085Z
MOUNT AIRY, MD — A Howard County man has been convicted of murder and five counts of attempted murder in connection with a deadly 2025 drive by shooting along Interstate 70 in Frederick County, Maryland, that left a 20 year old man dead.
According to the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office, a jury found 26 year old Jeffrey Josue Diaz guilty Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, of second degree murder, five counts of attempted second degree murder, six counts of using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, two counts of first degree assault and additional handgun offenses.
The convictions stem from a shooting that occurred around 11:38 p.m. Saturday, June 14, 2025, along eastbound Interstate 70 near the Mount Airy exit.
Investigators said six people were traveling in a red 2018 GMC Sierra when someone in a passing vehicle opened fire, striking the pickup with at least 10 gunshots.
The driver managed to pull into a Shell gas station at 649 Lakeview Drive in Mount Airy, where police and emergency medical personnel responded.
Eduardo Alexander Alvarado Urrea, 20, who was seated in the front middle seat, suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and upper back and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver was shot in the upper shoulder but survived and was transported to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore for treatment. Another passenger suffered facial injuries from broken glass.
Investigators Linked Shooting to Earlier Altercation According to prosecutors, investigators determined that the six occupants of the GMC Sierra had attended an event at the Frederick County Fairgrounds earlier that evening.
During the event, Diaz allegedly became involved in a physical altercation with one of the vehicle's occupants.
A security guard reported seeing Diaz shortly after the confrontation with a cut and bleeding forehead. The guard also observed Diaz leaving the fairgrounds in a dark colored pickup truck shortly after the victims departed.
Investigators subsequently reviewed surveillance footage and red light cameras near East Patrick Street and Monocacy Boulevard in Frederick, identifying a black 2022 Dodge Ram associated with a friend of Diaz.
Cellphone location records and information recovered from the GMC Sierra's infotainment system helped investigators establish that the Dodge Ram caught up with the victims' truck along eastbound Interstate 70.
Authorities determined that Diaz was seated in the rear driver's side seat of the Dodge Ram when he spotted the GMC Sierra.
According to the State's Attorney's Office, Diaz lowered his window and fired multiple rounds into the GMC Sierra as the Dodge Ram passed the vehicle.
Arrested June 29, 2025 Maryland State Police arrested Diaz on June 29, 2025, approximately two weeks after the fatal shooting.
He was booked into the Frederick County Adult Detention Center and has remained held without bond pending sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division's Homicide Unit, with assistance from the Mount Airy Police Department , Frederick County Sheriff 's Office, Frederick City Police Department and the FBI's Cellular Analysis Survey Team.
The prosecution was handled by Chief Counsel Ricky Lewis and Assistant State's Attorney Samantha Slattery.
Diaz remains in custody awaiting sentencing , according to the Frederick County State's Attorney's Office.