Guilty verdict in murder case in elementary school parking lot, defendant faces life imprisonment

A Montgomery County jury found 25-year-old Keith Delcid-Palacios guilty of second-degree murder and other charges in the 2021 shooting death of Martin Nolan and the shooting of another victim; When it is announced on November 7, 2024, he faces a life sentence plus 130 years.

According to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, a jury in the District Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jill Cummins, found defendant Keith Delcid-Palacios, 25, of Silver Spring, guilty of second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of use of a handgun to commit a felony for the shooting of 21-year-old Martin Nolan and the attempted shooting of another victim. The nine-day trial ended late yesterday, September 26, 2024.

Delcid-Palacios faces a life sentence plus an additional 130 years. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 7, 2024.

This stems from an incident on January 14, 2021 in the parking lot of Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring. The victim was sitting in the driver's seat of his parked vehicle and a friend was in the passenger seat when the defendant approached him and repeatedly yelled, “Where's Scrappy?” The defendant began hitting Nolan in the head with the pistol. Nolan put the vehicle in the driving position and the defendant stated, “If you leave, I will bust your ass.” Nolan began to drive forward and the defendant fired a shot from his pistol, striking Nolan. Nolan lost control of the vehicle and crashed into another car. He died as a result of the gunshot wound. The other victim fled the vehicle and the defendant shot at him as he fled, but was not hit.

Assistant District Attorneys Thea Zumwalt and Donna Fenton are prosecuting this matter.

During the trial, the defendant's brother, Jeffery Delcid-Palacios, was arrested and charged with two counts of intimidation of a witness and one count of obstruction of justice. A district court judge ordered him held without bail and his trial is pending.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Martin Nolan’s family. The level of violence the defendant displayed was outrageous. We commend our prosecution team for ensuring justice was served in this matter despite challenges, including witness intimidation,” said District Attorney John McCarthy.