UPDATE 10/02/2025: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, September 26, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced Nijale Zaki Mikal-Brown, 22, of Waldorf, to 4 years in prison for the Gross Negligent Manslaughter of Ja’Juan Malik Cobb.
Upon release, Mikal-Brown will be on supervised probation for a period of five years. If he violates the terms of his probation, he faces 6 additional years in prison.
Mikal-Brown pleaded guilty to the charge on May 12, 2025.
On March 27, 2024, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of St. Charles Parkway and Duncannon Road in Waldorf for the report of a motor vehicle collision involving a vehicle on fire.
Upon arrival, officers observed a 2023 silver Toyota Camry stopped in the southbound lanes, heavily burned with extensive damage to the front and driver’s side. A victim, later identified as Ja’Juan Malik Cobb, was located in the back of the vehicle deceased and lying on his side.
An investigation revealed that Mikal-Brown, who was driving the vehicle, had been traveling south on St. Charles Parkway more than 90 mph in a 45-mph zone on wet roads at nighttime. Cobb was seated in the front passenger seat, while another male passenger was in the left rear passenger seat. Mikal-Brown lost control of the Camry, struck a curb, then collided with a tree at approximately 75 mph, causing the vehicle to catch on fire.
There is no evidence that Mikal-Brown applied brakes. Both Mikal-Brown and the other male passenger were able to escape the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames.
Unfortunately, Cobb was not able to exit the vehicle and died as a result of the collision. Mikal-Brown and the other male passenger were treated for injuries sustained during the crash.
A blood kit administered on Mikal-Brown revealed that he had a .10 blood alcohol level.
At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Kate Edmands told the judge that Mikal-Brown’s actions were “outrageous behavior.” She continued, “He has to be held responsible, or we won’t be able to effect change. Not only did he put himself [and the other occupants] in danger, but anybody else that was on the roadways. He absolutely has to be held accountable.”
Before sentencing Mikal-Brown to 4 years in prison, the Honorable Judge Makeba Gibbs told Mikal-Brown that it was “very troubling how fast you were going. – The sheer recklessness of it is very baffling.”
UPDATE – Charles County Sheriff’s Office Press Release – 3/28/2024: On March 27 at 11:17 p.m., officers responded to the area of St. Charles Parkway and Duncannon Road in Waldorf for the report of a motor vehicle crash.
A preliminary investigation showed a passenger car was traveling southbound on St. Charles Parkway when it left the roadway, struck a tree, and caught fire. The driver and rear-seat passenger were able to get out of the vehicle; however, the front-seat passenger was deceased on the scene.
The decedent has been identified as Jajuan Cobb, age 22, of Accokeek.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call PFC Walker at Traffic Operations at 301-609-3251.
The investigation is ongoing.
3/27/2024: On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at approximately 11:12 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the intersection of St. Charles Parkway and Duncannon Road in Waldorf, for a serious motor vehicle collision with one vehicle on fire.
As firefighters responded to the scene, multiple callers reported the vehicle was on fire with one victim trapped inside.
Crews quickly arrived on the scene and began extinguishing the fire while attempting to perform rapid extrication.
Incident command reported three total patients, with two being out of the vehicle and conscious/alert.
The fire was extinguished in under 5 minutes. Firefighters found the third patient inside the vehicle and pronounced them deceased on the scene.
A helicopter was requested to land nearby, however, all were down due to weather. The additional two patients were transported to area treatment facilities.
Updates will be provided when they become available.
