Montgomery County police said they believe multiple participants were involved in what was likely the targeted killing of a District middle school principal.
A vehicle was seen pulling out of the alley behind Shaw Middle School principal Brian Betts’ Silver Spring house around 12:15 a.m. on April 15, police said Thursday. Betts was found shot to death around 7:30 p.m. that day. He was last heard from around 11:30 p.m. April 14, when he placed a phone call.
Montgomery County police spokeswoman Officer Melanie Brenner said detectives do not have a description of the vehicle that was pulling out of the alley, but they believe the driver is connected to the slaying. Betts’ Nissan Xterra was stolen from his house and found about 14 miles away in Southeast Washington on April 17. A witness told police he saw two men abandoning the sport utility vehicle sometime between noon and 3 p.m. on April 16.
But the vehicle seen pulling out of the alley “was definitely not his,” Brenner said, “which leads us to believe we are dealing with more than one suspect.” Investigators are hoping others who saw that vehicle early the morning of April 15 will step forward, she said.
Authorities have said they are investigating the possibility that Betts’ gay lifestyle might have played a role in his shooting death.
A co-worker went to check on Betts on April 15 when the principal didn’t show up for work and found the door to his house open and a light on. The co-worker left the house and called police. Authorities say they found Betts in his bedroom, fully clothed and shot to death.
Betts was laid to rest Thursday during a private funeral. On Wednesday, hundreds of students caravanned to Manassas to pay their respects to the highly respected educator at a public memorial ceremony. District school officials have planned other public mourning events in the coming weeks, including an 11 a.m. May 1 memorial in the Cardozo Senior High School auditorium.
Anyone with information about Betts’ stolen SUV or the vehicle seen in the alley is asked to call Montgomery County police at 240-773-5070 or Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477).
