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Suspect in custody in Mont. Co. shootings

Posted at 11:58 AM, May 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-06 19:46:06-04

Montgomery County Police have arrested a suspect in connection with two shootings that happened Friday morning in Montgomery County. 

Eulalio Tordil, 62, was taken into custody just before 3 p.m., police said. He is also accused of killing his estranged wife and wounding another man in a shooting Thursday at High Point High School in Prince George's County.

According to a protective order obtained by The Washington Post, Tordil's wife said he once slapped her so hard that her glasses broke on her face. She'd previously told authorities he threatened to hurt her if she left him.

RELATED: 1 dead following shooting at PG County High School

Montgomery County State's Attorney John J. McCarthy, joined at a press conference by Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger and other public officials from Montgomery and Prince George's counties, said charges are pending against Tordil. He will remain in custody all weekend, and is scheduled to be arraigned in Rockville District Court at 1 p.m. Monday.

McCarthy praised Montgomery County Police for their actions Friday.

"To do this without incident, without additional loss of life, is really an extraordinary effort," McCarthy said. 

Three people were shot at the Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Friday morning, Manger said.

One man was pronounced dead Friday afternoon, a second man is in critical condition and a woman sustained injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, police said. 

The victims were shot in the mall parking lot shortly after 11 a.m. All three victims were taken to area hospitals.

Later, police got reports of a fatal shooting at the Giant in Aspen Hill, police said. One woman was shot and killed there, according to police.

Tordil was taken into custody several hours later near the Giant where he allegedly shot the woman. Before he was taken into custody, police said he was walking around the area, in and out of businesses. 

Manger said Tordil was not placed under arrest until officers were absolutely sure it was safe to do so. 

"Our fear was that he was armed," Manger said.

Police are unsure of Tordil's relationship to the victims in Friday's shootings.

Tordil is an employee of the Federal Protective Service, The Associated Press reported. He was put on administrative duties in March after the protective order involving his wife was issued and subsequently placed on administrative leave.

According to a tweet from the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, all rec centers were put on lockdown as a result of the shootings.

Montgomery County Public Schools were briefly under a shelter-in-place order, which was lifted Friday afternoon. Dismissal occurred on time except for Parkland Middle School, Strathmore Elementary School, Georgian Forest Elementary School, Brookhaven Elementary School, and Harmony Hills Elementary School.    

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.