Charles County Court Delivers Guilty Verdict in High-Profile 2023 Teen Murder Case
LA PLATA, Md. – A Charles County jury has found 20-year-old Elijah Bernard Barnes guilty of second-degree murder and other charges linked to the 2023 shooting death of 17-year-old Rajon Lateef Jackson III. Following a five-day trial that ended on March 7, 2025, State’s Attorney Tony Covington announced the verdict which could result in a 68-year sentence for Barnes. The sentencing is scheduled for May 2. The incident that led to Jackson’s death unfolded on January 13, 2023, when he was fatally shot in the face and neck four times. The attack occurred shortly after … Read more