David Scott Jones, 58 of Lexington Park
David Scott Jones, 58, of Lexington Park, has been charged in the murder of Carl Joseph Carpenter, that occurred during a confrontation outside a residence on Bellevue Court on October 27, 2025. Court documents filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County show Jones faces six charges: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, use of a firearm in a felony or violent crime, and possession of a loaded handgun on his person. He is being held without bond following a bail review hearing held on October 29, 2025.
Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the residence just before 6:40 p.m. after receiving a report of an ongoing assault. As they responded, further information indicated that shots had been fired and that one person was not breathing. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the body of Carl Joseph Carpenter, 38, lying in a gravel bed next to the driveway of the property. The victim had sustained gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. His 2021 Ford Ranger was parked nearby and confirmed to be registered to him.
David Scott Jones was observed exiting the garage of the residence holding a black handgun with the slide locked to the rear. When confronted by law enforcement, Jones allegedly threw the weapon toward the front door and surrendered. The firearm was identified as a Smith & Wesson 9mm, registered to his wife, Djhonna Mari Jones. A frisk of Jones reportedly revealed a concealed sheathed knife, a pair of black metal nunchucks, and a magazine containing .45 caliber ammunition. Investigators also recovered an unloaded Kimber 1911 handgun registered to the victim in the driveway, and a loaded .45 caliber magazine consistent with that firearm was found in the front yard grass near the victim’s vehicle. Spent shell casings were also located at the scene.
A resident witness provided home surveillance footage, which investigators reviewed alongside statements from individuals present. The video reportedly shows that at 6:34 p.m., the victim arrived at the residence to pick up a witness for work. Soon after, Jones and Djhonna Mari Jones arrived in a white Hyundai sedan. Jones exited the driver’s side and walked toward the victim’s vehicle, initiating a verbal confrontation. The victim, seated in his truck, stated, “This can be your property but I need to leave.” Jones responded, “You need to leave, that’s cool.” When the victim said, “I need to move my car,” Jones replied, “No, move the car when I want, ni##a, I’m West Coast, cuz”.
As the victim prepared to exit his truck, Jones asked, “Oh, you gonna shoot me?” Djhonna Mari Jones walked past the two men during the altercation and entered the garage. The victim said, “All I’m trying to do is leave,” and Jones asked again, “You wanna shoot me?” Jones then asked his wife, “Where you going?” to which she responded, “Get you what you need.” The victim attempted to calm the situation, saying, “Are we cool now?” followed by, “Can I put this away?” referring to his firearm. Jones replied, “Believe me, I was about to get mine,” then laughed, adding, “Just so you know, we were about to do this thing together.” The victim replied, “Just so you know, ain’t scared,” and Jones said, “I don’t want you to be scared, don’t want you to be scared, bro.” The victim then appeared to unload his firearm and said, “Here, watch out,” while clearing the chamber.
According to investigators, Jones took the victim’s firearm and began walking toward the residence. As he did, he turned toward the victim and pointed the weapon at him, saying, “Mother fu##er, look. Look—you on my property now.” The victim replied, “With no f##king rounds, bro,” and Jones responded, “Ohh, don’t worry about no rounds,” while reaching toward the house. At that moment, Djhonna Mari Jones exited the residence and handed a second handgun directly to Jones, which he accepted with his right hand. Now holding both firearms, Jones approached the victim again, stating, “With no rounds, with no rounds—you are my fu##ing problem.” A witness then began to exit the vehicle, and Jones allegedly kicked the victim in the midsection.
The victim then tackled Jones to the ground. After a brief struggle, and with the assistance of witnesses and Djhonna, the victim stood up. The victim then reportedly said, “I didn’t point [a] weapon at you.” Jones responded, “F##k you, you on my property, motherfu##er.” Djhonna then told the victim, “If I were you, I’d get the f##k in my car and leave.” The victim walked toward his vehicle and asked Jones if he was going to move his car. Jones told a witness to move the vehicle instead. As the victim opened his driver’s side door and stood between it and the vehicle frame, Jones allegedly yelled, “Get the f##k out of here before I blast your ass.” He then said, “I should shoot you in your head. You know what—f##k it!” and fired a shot through the window, striking the victim in the head.
The victim collapsed into the gravel, and Jones walked over and fired additional rounds into his upper body and head. Investigators stated that earlier attempts by witnesses to de-escalate the confrontation were unsuccessful. The names of the witnesses who intervened have not been publicly released.
Following the incident, a records check revealed that Jones is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous convictions, including a crime of violence, a disqualifying felony, and a misdemeanor with a sentence exceeding two years. Jones was read his Miranda rights at 2:48 a.m. and provided a verbal statement to investigators. He was positively identified through his Maryland driver’s license photo.
Jones was formally charged on October 28, 2025, and had his initial appearance the same day. He is represented by the Office of the Public Defender. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 24, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 1 of the St. Mary’s County District Court.
UPDATE 10/28/2025 – St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office released the following: On Monday, October 27, 2025, at approximately 6:40 p.m., police responded to a residence in the 21000 block of Bellevue Court in Lexington Park for a reported assault in progress.
While deputies were enroute, dispatchers advised that shots had been fired and that one individual appeared to be suffering from gunshot wounds.
Upon arrival, deputies located a deceased male near the driveway of the residence with apparent gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.
A male, identified as David Scott Jones, 58, a resident at the location, was found holding a handgun.
When confronted by deputies, Jones released the weapon and was taken into custody without incident.
Through the preliminary investigation, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division determined that Jones and the victim had been involved in a verbal altercation immediately before the shooting.
Jones has been charged with the following offenses:
- First-degree murder
- Second-degree murder
- First-degree assault
- Second-degree assault
- Use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence
- Loaded handgun on person
Jones is being held at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown pending a bail hearing.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information who has not yet provided a statement is asked to contact Detective Andrew Burgess at 301-475-4200, ext. 8041, or by email at [email protected].
10/27/2025: On Monday October 27, 2025 at approximately 6:40 p.m., police responded to the 21000 block of Bellevue Court in Lexington Park, for the reported active disturbance and possible fight.
The 911 caller reported an active disturbance with the callers father being pinned on the ground by someone.
A few minutes later, multiple 911 callers reported shots fired.
Firefighters and and emergency medical services were dispatched to stage in the area until police arrived to secure the scene.
Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene to find one subject deceased from an unknown amount of gunshot wounds, one adult male subject suffering from injuries from an assault, and placed the shooter into custody.
Emergency medical services arrived on the scene to confirm one victim deceased on scene in the driveway of the residence, with the second patient being evaluated and treated for injuries from the assault.
The 58-year-old male suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Police remain on the scene to investigate the incident. Avoid the area and expect the street to be closed for the next 4+ hours.
