LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a 24-year-old man Tuesday evening after recovering a firearm linked to a shooting that injured two people outside Action Lounge and Billiards on October 11, 2025. The incident unfolded in the lounge’s parking lot along Washington Street, drawing a swift response from deputies and sending victims to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Shaekwon Talib Jackson, of the 46000 block of Mallet Court in Lexington Park, faced 19 charges following the search of a residence in the 44000 block of Mane Pooh Lane here. Authorities executed the warrant at 6 p.m. on October 14, seizing a GLOCK 9mm handgun believed used in the attack. Jackson appeared before a commissioner and was held without bond at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center pending a hearing.
The charges against Jackson include four counts each of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault. Additional counts encompass use of a firearm in a crime of violence, wearing or carrying a loaded handgun and wearing a handgun.
Deputies responded to the lounge at 22520 Washington Street around 11:45 p.m. Saturday after reports of gunfire. Witnesses described hearing multiple shots in the crowded parking lot, a common gathering spot for locals on weekend nights. The two male victims, both in their 20s and residents of nearby Great Mills, sustained gunshot wounds to their lower bodies. Hospital staff released one victim early Sunday; the second remained under observation through Monday for precautionary scans.
Detective Warren Forinash of the Criminal Investigations Division led the probe, reviewing surveillance footage from the lounge’s eight exterior cameras. The video captured a silver sedan pulling into the lot at 11:40 p.m., with Jackson exiting the driver’s side. He approached a group near a black pickup truck, exchanged words and fired six rounds from the hip before fleeing north on Washington Street. Ballistics matched casings recovered at the scene to the seized GLOCK, purchased legally in Virginia in 2023 under Jackson’s name.
Maryland law classifies attempted first-degree murder as a felony punishable by 25 years to life, requiring proof of premeditation. First-degree assault carries up to 25 years, while handgun violations add 3 to 5 years mandatory minimums under the state’s Firearm Crimes Act of 2013. Prosecutors must demonstrate Jackson’s intent through video evidence and witness statements from four bystanders who identified him in photo arrays Monday.
The arrest caps a 72-hour investigation involving 15 deputies canvassing a 2-mile radius around the lounge. Forinash’s team interviewed 22 people, including lounge staff and patrons from Charlotte Hall and Mechanicsville. A tip from an anonymous caller at 2 p.m. Tuesday pinpointed Jackson’s location on Mane Pooh Lane, a quiet subdivision off Three Notch Road with 45 single-family homes built in the 2000s.
Forinash urged tips on this case, reachable at 301-475-4200, extension 8072, or Warren.Forinash@stmaryscountymd.gov. The investigation remains active, with charges possible against unnamed associates seen in video aiding Jackson’s escape.
Local procedures for such incidents follow Maryland Code, Public Safety Article §5-133: Deputies secure scenes within 15 minutes, hospitals notify law enforcement per HIPAA exceptions, and warrants require judicial review within 48 hours. Bond hearings, set for 9 a.m. Wednesday in District Court at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, weigh flight risk using a points system; Jackson scored 22, exceeding the 20-point no-bond threshold.
Educational note for residents: Maryland’s Red Flag Law allows petitions to remove firearms from at-risk individuals within 24 hours. St. Mary’s offers free safety classes at the Leonardtown Library on November 5, covering de-escalation. To report anonymously, dial 301-475-8008.
