LEONARDTOWN, Md. – A local jury has convicted 21-year-old Jontae Lamont Proctor of first-degree murder, marking a significant legal outcome fueled by repeated violent offenses. The St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced the verdict, which stems from Proctor’s involvement in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man last year.
The incident took place on February 26, 2024, when deputies rushed to a report of gunfire in Lexington Park. They discovered a young man inside a vehicle, critically injured with a gunshot wound to the head from which he later died.
Following a four-day trial, the jury also found Proctor guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. This conviction reflects a heavy pattern of violence that the defendant has displayed over a short period.
In another case close to a month prior to this trial, another jury found Proctor guilty of first-degree assault and firearms use in a violent crime. This separate crime involved Proctor shooting into a residence, also located in Lexington Park. Sterling highlighted Proctor’s escalating violence as a major community safety concern.
“These repeated acts of violent crime show a total disregard for human life,” Sterling stated, reinforcing the community’s stance against such lawlessness. She affirmed that continued efforts to prosecute violent crimes are essential for community safety.
Currently detained without bond, Proctor faces the possibility of life imprisonment for the murder charge. Sentencing for this latest conviction will soon follow, alongside another hearing for the assault charges which could add up to 70 more years to his sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier and Assistant State’s Attorney Shaye Reynolds. Detective Warren Forinash led the investigation, and the trial was overseen by the Honorable Joseph Bernhardt.
These legal actions indicate a strong response from the justice system to severe and repeated criminal conduct and highlight the ongoing commitment of local authorities to uphold public safety and security.
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