Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones identified the man found amidst the debris from the explosion at the Potomac Oaks Condominum in Gaithersburg as Juan Pablo Marshall Quizon, 36.
Jones called the death a suicide, noting that a suicide note has been located. However, Jones would not say at this time where the note was found or what it said. “We know for a fact that he made statements that were indicative of intention of suicide,” Jones said.
A medical examiner ruled the cause of death to be suicide caused by smoke inhalation and burns.
Jones stressed that police do not yet know if Quizon intended to cause great damage to the apartments in the 800 block of Quince Orchard Road or harm anyone else. He also noted that police have not had any prior interaction with Quizon.
“We have no information to believe” that Quizon intended to harm anyone else, Jones said. However, the incident is still considered a criminal investigation. Should Quizon, who worked in the scrap metal business, have lived, he would have been held criminally responsible for injuries to his neighbors and any property damage.
All 10 people who had been taken to the hospital after the explosion and fire on Wednesday have been released.
Work at the site has concluded, and Gaithersburg Police will be installing a fence Friday evening to keep people away from the debris and unsafe structures.
All other investigative work will be done off-site. Quizon’s utilities were removed so that investigators could see if the knobs were still turned on to allow gas to escape and what the flow rate usage was, explained Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein.
Any items that police dogs believed to have accelerants, like kerosene and gasoline, have been sent to a laboratory for diagnosis.
Quizon’s mother had reported her son missing Wednesday but did not know he lived at or owned Unit 102 at 826 Quince Orchard Boulevard, which he purchased in August. His family thought he lived in Rockville, Jones said.
Affected residents will be escorted back to their apartments to retrieve important belongings Saturday morning, Goldstein said.
As of Friday night, 47 people – including 10 children – have reported to the Department of Health and Human Services for assistance.
Donated funds to help these victims has reached $62,000, including $15,000 from Washington Gas, Goldstein said.
At a news conference tonight @MCFRS and @mcpdChief provided information and released the name of the body recovered from the Quince Orchard Blvd. explosion. MCPD has determined 36-year-old Juan Pablo Marshall Quizon is responsible for the explosion.#MCPNews #MCPD pic.twitter.com/cLVIvwwTVa
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) November 18, 2022
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