LEONARDTOWN, Md. – St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that a jury found Jontae Lamont Proctor, 21, of Leonardtown, Maryland, guilty of first-degree murder for his involvement in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old victim.
The incident occurred on February 26, 2024, when deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire in Lexington Park, Maryland. They discovered the victim unconscious inside a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim later died from his injuries.
After a four-day jury trial, Proctor was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault in connection to this homicide.
This conviction adds to Proctor’s growing history of violent crimes. While awaiting trial for the shooting, Proctor was also convicted of first-degree assault and the use of a firearm in a violent crime for a separate incident that occurred on March 13, 2024, in which he fired shots into a residence in Lexington Park.
State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling emphasized the gravity of Proctor’s actions, stating, “This defendant has repeatedly exhibited a blatant disregard for human life and the safety of our community.” Sterling added, “These convictions ensure that the defendant will no longer be able to terrorize our neighborhoods, and our office will continue to aggressively prosecute violent offenders to keep our community safe.”
Proctor remains in custody without bond as he awaits sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the first-degree murder conviction, as well as a maximum of 70 years for convictions stemming from the separate first-degree assault case.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier and Assistant State’s Attorney Shaye Reynolds prosecuted the case, with Detective Warren Forinash of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office serving as the lead investigator. The Honorable Joseph Bernhardt presided over the trial.
