LA PLATA, Md. — On May 12, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Monise A. Stephenson sentenced Elijah Bernard Barnes, 20, of Waldorf, to 45 years in prison for the second-degree murder of 17-year-old Rajon Lateef Jackson, III, and related charges. The sentencing follows Barnes’ conviction by a Charles County jury on March 7, 2025, for the January 13, 2023, shooting in Waldorf.
The incident occurred when officers responded to Harvest Fish Place in Waldorf after a shooting was reported. They found Jackson suffering from four gunshot wounds to his face and neck. Despite being transported to a hospital, Jackson succumbed to his injuries. A witness reported that Jackson had just exited his school bus and was walking toward his home when Barnes, seated in an older model silver Toyota Corolla with a missing hubcap on the front driver’s side, called him over. As Jackson approached, Barnes shot him four times and fled.
Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station captured the Toyota Corolla parking at a pump minutes before the murder. Barnes, the vehicle’s sole occupant, was recorded entering the business. Neighborhood surveillance cameras later showed the same vehicle in the area at the time of the shooting. The witness’ description of the shooter matched Barnes’ appearance.
Investigators identified Barnes as the suspect, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Having fled Maryland, Barnes was apprehended in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, five days after the killing. At the sentencing hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse requested a 65-year sentence, emphasizing the profound impact of Jackson’s death. He noted that Jackson’s father had moved him to Waldorf for a safer environment, only for the teen to be killed a month before learning he would become a father. Stackhouse said, “Rajon’s father moved Rajon here to Waldorf for a safer environment and that is just heartbreaking. A month before his murder, [Rajon] was told that he was going to be a dad. He’s never ever going to be able to meet his daughter. There is real generational trauma in this case – a little girl who will never know her dad, parents who lost a child, grandparents who lost a grandson.”
Stackhouse also highlighted the community’s trauma, stating, “He is clearly a danger – executing someone in the middle of the day, when he gets off a school bus, steps away from his home. It just doesn’t get any worse than that.” The court sentenced Barnes to 40 years for second-degree murder, five years for use of a firearm during a crime of violence (with 15 years suspended), and five years for possession of a regulated firearm while under 21 (fully suspended), with terms running consecutively.
The case has left a lasting mark on Waldorf, where the daytime shooting near a residential area shocked residents. Jackson, described as a teen with a bright future, was weeks away from significant life milestones. His death has raised concerns about youth safety in the community, particularly near schools and bus stops. The Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office, led by Tony Covington, pursued the case with a focus on securing justice for Jackson’s family and the affected neighborhood.
Barnes’ conviction and sentencing mark the resolution of a case that began over two years ago. The investigation relied heavily on witness accounts, surveillance footage, and swift coordination between Maryland and North Carolina authorities to apprehend the suspect. The court’s decision reflects the severity of the crime, which disrupted a family and a community seeking safety.
