Winston Warren Smith age 38 of Lexington Park
UPDATE 9/24/2024: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced that Winston Warren Smith, 39, of Lexington Park, Maryland, faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison after admitting guilt to the attempted second-degree murder of another bar patron.
In April 2024, Smith was involved in an incident at a bar located on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, Maryland. After a verbal argument turned physical, both Smith and the victim were asked to leave the bar. Smith exited the establishment first. Once the victim made it outside, Smith and an accomplice attacked the victim, and Smith stabbed the victim multiple times with a knife.
Within minutes, law enforcement officers from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and located the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. First responders arrived and quickly rendered aid to the victim. Before the victim was transported to shock trauma, the victim told investigators that he was involved in an argument over a spilled drink. Smith was later identified as the individual who stabbed the victim and was subsequently arrested.
Smith will be held without bond pending a sentencing hearing where he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Zachary Varda and Kirstin Riddle prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
Detective Benjamin Raley of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator.
The Honorable Michael J. Stamm presided over the case.
UPDATE: Charging documents added. On Sunday, April 14, 2024, at approximately 12:06 a.m., police responded to a disturbance at Paradise Bar and Lounge (formally Cadillac Jacks) located at 21367 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park.
Upon arrival, deputies located a 64-year-old male victim laying in the parking lot suffering from multiple stab wounds to his chest and abdomen.
As they began to render aid to the victim, he stated that while playing pool inside of the bar, the victim accidentally knocked over the defendants drink and offered to buy him a new drink once the pool game was over. The defendant wanted the victim to buy a new drink immediately and began knocking the remaining pool balls on the table around.
Security began escorting the defendant and his group to the exit, and while doing so, the defendant picked up a pool ball and threw it at the victim, which struck him in the head.
The defendant and his entire group was escorted outside. Approximately 10 minutes later, the victim went to leave and as soon as he exited the business, the defendant and several other suspects began attacking the victim with the defendant pulling out a knife with a silver blade and began stabbing the victim.
Medics stated the victim had a collapsed lung and needed aviation transport.
Several videos of the assault were provided to police and clearly showed the victim directly outside the business exit being assaulted by the defendant and other suspects.
Police were able to identify the suspect and responded to his residence in Patuxent Homes. Officers made contact with the suspects wife who stated he had just left the residence in her vehicle.
Deputies located the vehicle in the area of Great Mills Road and Chancellors Run Road and conducted a traffic stop and placed Smith into custody without incident.
UPDATE 4/15/2024: On Sunday, April 14, 2024, Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance at Paradise Bar and Lounge located at 21367 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, MD, where they found an individual suffering from multiple stab wounds.
A preliminary investigation revealed an argument between the victim and the suspect escalated into a physical altercation and resulted in the victim, a 64-year-old male, receiving multiple stab wounds.
The victim was flown by Trooper 7 of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command to an area hospital for medical treatment, where he is currently listed in stable condition.
The suspect, identified by witnesses as being involved in the stabbing, fled the scene but was later apprehended during a traffic stop on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. Winston Warren Smith, 38, of Lexington Park, was arrested and charged with Attempted First- and Second-Degree Murder and First- and Second-Degree Assault and transported to the Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, MD.
4/14/2024: On Sunday, April 14, 2024, at approximately 12:10 a.m., police responded to the Cadillac Jacks located at 21367 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, for the reported large fight and active disturbance.
Police arrived on the scene to find a large crowd and a 63-year-old male laying in the parking lot with multiple stab wounds to the chest. A Maryland State Police Helicopter was placed on standby.
Emergency medical personnel responded and arrived on the scene to confirm a helicopter was needed. Medics advised the victim suffered at least 3 stab wounds to the upper-body.
Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 2 responded and landed at the St. Mary’s County Airport in Hollywood where they then transported the victim to an area trauma center with serious injuries.
Police are investigating the assault and updates will be provided when they become available.
