LEONARDTOWN, MD – The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning incident in Lexington Park that began with a reported stabbing at a Royal Farms convenience store and escalated to a vehicular assault nearby, leaving two men hospitalized and one person arrested on attempted murder charges.
Deputies responded shortly after 1 a.m. to the Royal Farms at 21779 Tulagi Place following a 911 call about a stabbing. On arrival, they found a 20-year-old male victim with lacerations to his hand and face. The preliminary investigation showed the victim had been in an altercation with Lavonte Draven Solomon, during which Solomon allegedly produced a knife that caused the injuries. Solomon left the scene immediately after the incident.
Within a short time, deputies located Solomon in the area of South Coral Drive with life-threatening injuries from being struck by a vehicle. He was transported to a regional trauma center, where he remains in critical condition.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division took over the case and, through additional inquiries, identified the driver involved in the vehicular assault as Brian Labar Taylor, 39, of Lexington Park. Taylor was arrested and taken to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center. He faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree assault. Taylor remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the full sequence of events and any connections between the parties involved. No booking photo for Taylor was available at the time of the initial news release.
The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Helen Deitrich at 301-475-4200, ext. 8066, or via email at Helen.Deitrich@stmaryscountymd.gov. Anonymous tips are also accepted through multiple channels, including texting 847411 with “SMCSO” followed by the tip details, submitting online at www.FirstSheriff.com/tips, using the SMCSO app available on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or calling the Crime Solvers line at 301-475-3333. Crime Solvers tips remain anonymous, and individuals may qualify for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest.
Under Maryland law, attempted first-degree murder requires proof of intent to kill with premeditation and deliberation, carrying a potential sentence of up to life imprisonment. Attempted second-degree murder involves intent to kill without premeditation, with a maximum of 30 years. First-degree assault typically applies to acts causing or attempting serious physical injury with a deadly weapon, punishable by up to 25 years, while second-degree assault covers general attempts to cause injury, with penalties up to 10 years.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes community involvement in solving crimes, particularly in cases like this where events unfolded rapidly across nearby locations in the early morning hours. Residents in Lexington Park and surrounding areas, including Great Mills and California, are familiar with the layout of streets like Tulagi Place and South Coral Drive, which connect residential zones to commercial corridors.
The ongoing nature of the investigation means additional details may emerge as detectives interview witnesses and review evidence. No further updates on the victims’ conditions or potential motives have been released at this time.
