Father Charged With Son's Murder, Denied Bond

Wayne Price, , will be held without bond, Montgomery County District Court Judge Eugene Wolfe ruled Monday afternoon.

At Price's bond review hearing today in Montgomery County District Court, Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey Wennar said Price, 55, went to his room to obtain a handgun before shooting his son, 23-year-old Matthew Eugene Price, several times. The elder Price left the gun inside and followed his son down three flights of stairs in pursuit, Wennar said, before catching him and failing to provide first aid.

Wayne Price is a former member of the military where he was trained in first aid and paramedics, Wennar said.

Price’s attorney, Steven Kupferberg, said it is not clear where Wennar came to the conclusion his client was capable of rendering assistance to this kind of wound and that Price tried to contact help for his son.

“My understanding of what may have happened there is that [Matthew Price] fled the apartment,” Kupferberg said. “[Wayne Price] followed him downstairs to see if there was any way he could get him help.

“He attempted to contact 911 — we haven’t gotten the tapes so I couldn’t tell you if that went through — and attempted to contact a policeman that lives in the complex.”

Kupferberg said he believes there is a good chance the charges will be reduced after the State’s Attorney’s office has an opportunity to look at the case.

“I don’t think it’s a premeditated murder in any sense,” Kupferberg said. “Probably manslaughter would be the most appropriate charge.”

The altercation began with a disagreement between the father and son about whether Matthew Price was going to continue living in their apartment in the 7900 block of Spiceberry Circle in Gaithersburg, Kupferberg said.

Wayne Price remained on scene and was taken into police custody. The weapon police officers seized that was used in the homicide is a legally registered gun, Kupferberg said, adding it’s unclear if his client is issued a weapon for his job as a security guard.

His mother, sister and two brothers in the courtroom supported Price, who appeared from Montgomery County jail via videoconference.

“Everybody has expressed the desire to help [Wayne] as much as possible, even over and above the call that is required of family,” Kupferberg said.

All of Price’s family members declined to comment on the case. He has a preliminary hearing set for 10 a.m. Friday, June 1 in Rockville.