LEONARDTOWN — St. Mary’s County authorities arrested Djhonna Mari Jones, 46, of Lexington Park, on November 20, 2025, charging her with first-degree murder and related offenses tied to a deadly shooting that occurred nearly a month earlier at a Bellevue Court residence.
The charges stem from an incident on October 27, 2025, when deputies responded at approximately 6:40 p.m. to the 21000 block of Bellevue Court in Lexington Park after reports of an assault in progress. As units headed to the scene, dispatch updated that gunfire had erupted. Arriving deputies discovered an adult male victim lying near the driveway, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division took over the case immediately, gathering evidence that led to an arrest warrant for Jones issued on November 17, 2025. She faces counts of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and carrying a loaded handgun on her person.
Following her arrest, Jones was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where a judge ordered her held without bond pending further court proceedings.
The initial response on October 27 involved rapid coordination between patrol deputies and emergency medical personnel, standard for reports involving potential weapons in residential areas like Lexington Park, a community near Naval Air Station Patuxent River with a mix of military families and long-term residents. Bellevue Court sits in a subdivision known for single-family homes and townhouses, where disputes can escalate quickly if firearms are involved.
Maryland law treats first-degree murder as a premeditated killing, carrying a potential life sentence without parole, while second-degree murder applies to intentional but non-premeditated acts, with penalties up to 40 years. The firearm charge adds a mandatory minimum of five years, served consecutively in most cases, reflecting state efforts to deter gun violence in felonies. Handgun carry violations, even loaded ones, fall under public safety statutes requiring permits, which remain strictly regulated in Maryland.
Investigators have not released the victim’s identity publicly in the latest updates, nor detailed the exact relationship or motive, as the case continues to develop. The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that evidence collection included witness interviews, forensic analysis, and review of any available surveillance from the area.
Residents in St. Mary’s County can provide information directly to lead detective Andrew Burgess at 301-475-4200, extension 8041, or via email at Andrew.Burgess@stmaryscountymd.gov. Anonymous options remain available through several channels established by the department to encourage tips without fear of identification.
Those include texting 847411 with the prefix “SMCSO” followed by the details, submitting online at the Sheriff’s Office tips portal, or using the free SMCSO mobile app available on major platforms. Callers may also contact St. Mary’s County Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333, where qualifying tips leading to arrests can earn cash rewards.
This case marks one of several firearm-related investigations in the county during 2025, underscoring ongoing public safety efforts. Authorities continue to urge community members with any knowledge of the October 27 event to come forward, as even small details can assist in resolving open questions.
