A Lexington Park man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of 23-year-old Malic Quinn Freeland, whose gunshot wound led to a fatal vehicle crash in St. Mary’s County.
State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced the verdict on March 2, 2026, following a four-day bench trial in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court. Zahlir Daylin Gantt, 23, of Lexington Park, Maryland, was found guilty on March 27, 2026, by Judge Joseph Stanalonis of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and regulated firearm illegal possession by a disqualified person.
The convictions stem from the February 26, 2024, incident in Lexington Park near Valley Drive and Fox Ridge Road. Around 9 p.m. that evening, a vehicle crashed into a fence and a shed. The driver, the sole occupant, had sustained a gunshot wound. Emergency responders provided aid at the scene before transporting the victim to a Shock Trauma Center. The victim was later identified as Malic Quinn Freeland, 23, who died on February 27, 2024, from complications of the gunshot wound. Authorities classified the case as a homicide, and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation, with the body sent for autopsy in Baltimore.
The investigation, led by Detective Warren Forinash of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, involved extensive evidence analysis by crime analysts and technicians. Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier prosecuted the case. Gantt was one of three individuals charged in connection with Freeland’s death, marking him as the third convicted in the slaying.
State’s Attorney Sterling emphasized the significance of the outcome. “This verdict delivers accountability and shows that prosecutors and investigators will continue to stand together in seeking justice for victims and their families. I would like to thank the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office’s crime analysts and technicians, who worked tirelessly to accumulate and analyze the voluminous amount of evidence in this case,” she said. “Our community deserves safety. Our office’s commitment to prosecuting violent crime remains steadfast, especially when it results in the precious loss of life.”
Gantt remains held without bond awaiting sentencing, where he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison plus 65 years. The case underscores ongoing efforts in St. Mary’s County to address violent crime through thorough investigations and prosecutions.
The original incident drew attention due to the mysterious circumstances of the crash and shooting, which transitioned into a full homicide probe.