Waldorf Man Convicted of Murder in the Killing of Leon Inabinett Jr.
A Waldorf man has been found guilty of second-degree murder and now faces up to 40 years in prison for the death of Leon Nathaniel Inabinett Jr. The conviction of 27-year-old Jahad Karim Frierson was announced on December 3, 2023, following a nine-day trial in Charles County, Maryland.
The tragic incident occurred on June 20, 2021, when officers responded to a call at the Bryans Road Firehouse located on Livingston Road. Upon arrival, they discovered Inabinett, 25, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a hallway. He was rushed to the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
An investigation into the events leading up to the murder revealed that Inabinett had attended a birthday party at the firehouse before the shooting. The confrontation between Frierson and Inabinett stemmed from a prior dispute. After learning Inabinett was at the firehouse, Frierson contacted his co-defendant, Ryan Lamont Bell, for assistance in confronting the victim.
Frierson and Bell arrived at the firehouse, hid in bushes, and waited for Inabinett to come outside. As Inabinett was heading to the parking lot with a tray of cookies, Frierson and Bell approached him. Frierson, armed with a handgun provided by Bell, struck Inabinett and shot him multiple times. After the shooting, the two suspects fled the scene in a vehicle.
An anonymous tip later led authorities to identify the vehicle involved as a blue/teal Toyota Camry, which was connected to Bell. Surveillance footage, cellphone records, and Bell’s ankle monitor confirmed the suspects’ presence at the crime scene during the murder. The handgun used in the crime was found in Bell’s vehicle, and Bell later admitted to cleaning the gun after the shooting.
On November 14, 2022, Bell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and use of a firearm during a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19, 2023.
Frierson’s sentencing date is set for February 6, 2025, and he faces a maximum of 40 years in prison for his role in the murder of Leon Inabinett Jr.