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Montgomery County Police have charged five suspected gang members with attempted first-degree murder in connection with a stabbing Tuesday evening in Wheaton.

At about 9:24 p.m., several men stabbed and physically assaulted a 21-year-old Wheaton man after the man called out to several women who were sitting on the front porch of a home in the 13100 block of Matey Road, police say.

One man came out of the residence and told the man to leave the women alone, police say. A confrontation ensued as several other men came out of the residence and chased the man to the nearby intersection of Bluhill and Dean roads, where they assaulted him.

When 4th District police officers arrived on the scene, they found the 21-year-old man unconscious with several injuries, including an apparent stab wound to his head. He was transported to an area hospital where he remained in critical condition with life-threatening injuries Wednesday evening, police reported.

As detectives investigated the incident, they were led to a residence in the 4300 block of Ferrara Drive in Wheaton, where they arrested Christian Salmeron, 20, and Jose A. Hernandez, 16, both of the 4300 block of Ferrara Drive; and Hirbin Bladimir Guerrero, 16, of the 11300 block of Schuylkill Road in North Bethesda.

Detectives also arrested Deshaun Budd-Bey, 18, of the 12800 block of Bluhill Road in Wheaton at his residence, and Jose Vasquez, 21, of the 4400 block of Sigsbee Road in Wheaton in his vehicle nearby. Police identified Vasquez as the suspect who allegedly stabbed the man.

In addition to the attempted murder charges, all of the suspects have been charged as adults with first-degree assault and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. Bond information was unavailable Wednesday evening. Police say the investigation is continuing.

The suspects are believed to be members of a local gang, while the victim is not believed to have any gang affiliation, police say. The attack does not appear to be motivated by gang affiliation.

Lt. Paul Starks, a spokesman with Montgomery County Police, said police typically do not release the names of gangs to prevent giving them notoriety and to prevent encouraging other gangs to commit acts that will be "recognized by police."