LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Jontae Lamont Proctor, 22, of Leonardtown, Maryland, was sentenced to life in prison plus 94 years of active incarceration on June 23, 2025, for a series of violent shootings in St. Mary’s County, State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced. The convictions stem from a three-month crime spree in 2024, including a fatal shooting, an assault in a restaurant, and gunfire into an occupied home.
On February 26, 2024, Proctor participated in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man in Lexington Park. Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to gunfire reports and found the victim unconscious in a vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head. The victim died from his injuries. A jury convicted Proctor of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault on March 14, 2025, following a four-day trial.
Weeks later, on March 13, 2024, Proctor fired multiple rounds into a Lexington Park home occupied by a father and his child. A separate jury convicted him of first-degree assault and use of a firearm in a violent crime in February 2025. On April 2, 2024, Proctor shot another man inside an Applebee’s restaurant in California, Maryland, leaving the victim critically injured. He was convicted of attempted first-degree murder and related charges for this incident.
Proctor’s arrest on May 14, 2024, in a Mechanicsville business parking lot ended his violent spree. Authorities found a loaded handgun in his possession, leading to six additional firearms charges. He faced charges including attempted first-degree murder, assault, and violation of probation, in addition to the homicide and firearms offenses.
“This Defendant terrorized our community through repeated and escalating acts of violence over a period of several months,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “I hope today’s sentence brings some measure of justice and peace to the victims and the family of the young man whose life was senselessly taken. Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to vigorously prosecute violent criminals and continue to protect the people of St. Mary’s County.”
The Honorable Richard Bernhardt sentenced Proctor to life plus 25 years, with life plus 15 years of active incarceration for the homicide case. The Honorable Joseph Stanalonis sentenced him to 115 years, with 79 years of active incarceration for the remaining cases, to run consecutively. The total combined sentence was life plus 140 years, with life plus 94 years of active incarceration.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier and Assistant State’s Attorney Shaye Reynolds prosecuted the cases, with Detective Warren Forinash of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office leading the investigation. Proctor remains in custody at the Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown.
The convictions mark a significant response to a pattern of violence in St. Mary’s County. The February 26 homicide shook Lexington Park, prompting community calls for action. The March 13 shooting targeted a residence, endangering a family, while the April 2 restaurant shooting heightened public safety concerns. Proctor’s arrest followed an extensive investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
Sterling’s office emphasized its commitment to public safety, signaling ongoing efforts to address violent crime in the region.
