LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A 3:20 a.m. assault call on September 3, 2025, in Lexington Park’s 46000 block of Wineberry Lane led St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies to arrest Tyree Dirreck Shields, 33, on 11 charges, including first-degree assault and illegal firearm possession. The incident, which escalated from a verbal dispute to physical violence, ended with deputies finding a loaded handgun on Shields, who is now held without bond at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
Deputies responded after the victim reported being assaulted by Shields, who fled on foot. A search of the area located a suspect matching the description, who gave a false name before being identified via his Maryland driver’s license. During the arrest, deputies discovered a loaded handgun in Shields’ jacket pocket, prompting additional charges due to his prior criminal convictions. The charges include two counts of first-degree assault, second-degree assault, providing a false identity, carrying a loaded handgun, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person. He also faces a charge for using a firearm in a felony or violent crime, reflecting the serious nature of the incident.
First-degree assault, a felony, carries up to 25 years in prison, while firearm possession after a felony conviction mandates a minimum of five years without parole in Maryland. Shields’ no-bond status, set during an initial bail review, indicates judicial concern about his risk to the community. He awaits a preliminary hearing, typically within 30 days, to determine if there’s sufficient evidence to proceed. The St. Mary’s County Detention Center in Leonardtown, where Shields is held, serves as the county’s primary facility for pre-trial detainees.
The incident occurred in a residential area of Lexington Park, near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and Lexington Village shopping center, a community familiar to St. Mary’s County’s 113,510 residents. The Sheriff’s Office, which patrols the county from four district stations, including one in Lexington Park, responded swiftly, reflecting its commitment to public safety. Sheriff Steven A. Hall has prioritized rapid response to violent incidents, with deputies handling thousands of calls monthly across the county’s 357 square miles.
Residents can report suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 301-475-8008 or request incident reports at 301-475-4200, ext. 1994, at no cost to victims.
