UPDATE: Four Brothers Charged and Four Guns Recovered After High-Speed Chase and Crash

December 27, 2024

Tireke Allen Straughn, 21, Tywon Deontae Straughn, 23, Deondre Maceo Straughn, 18, all from Saint Inigoes, and Howard Anthony Straughn Jr., 25, of Easton

UPDATE 12/27/2024: A fourth individual, identified as Deondre Maceo Straughn, 18, of Saint Inigoes, has been arrested following an incident on November 28, 2024, involving multiple firearms violations and a high-speed police chase that ended in a crash.

Deondre Maceo Straughn joins his brothers, Tireke Allen Straughn, 21, Tywon Deontae Straughn, 23, both of Saint Inigoes, and Howard Anthony Straughn Jr., 25, of Easton, who were previously arrested.

On the evening of November 28, 2024, officers from the Maryland Natural Resources Police Southern Region were conducting routine patrols in St. Inigoes State Forest after hearing multiple gunshots. The forest was closed to the public at the time, and officers later attempted to stop a vehicle registered to Tywon Straughn. The vehicle fled at high speed but overturned on Beachville Road, leaving its four occupants injured.

Multiple firearms were recovered from the scene:

Sig Sauer P320, 9mm pistol – found outside the passenger side front door.
Sig Sauer P365, 9mm pistol – discovered outside the driver’s side front door under vehicle debris.
Glock 19, 9mm pistol – recovered inside the overturned vehicle.
Angstadt Arms .45 ACP SBR (short-barreled rifle) – equipped with a Gemtech Suppressor, found between the vehicle’s seats.

Authorities determined that Deondre Straughn was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior juvenile adjudication of a disqualifying crime.

Charges for all four brothers:

Tireke Allen Straughn, 21, of Saint Inigoes

Tywon Deontae Straughn, 23, of Saint Inigoes

Howard Anthony Straughn Jr., 25, of Easton

Handgun in a vehicle
Loaded handgun in a vehicle
Handgun on a person
Loaded handgun on a person
Possession of a firearm in a state forest
Illegally entering state lands

Deondre Maceo Straughn, 18, of Saint Inigoes

Handgun in a vehicle
Loaded handgun in a vehicle
Handgun on a person
Loaded handgun on a person
Possession of a firearm in a state forest
Illegally entering state lands
Target shooting in a non-designated area
Possession of ammunition while prohibited
Illegal discharge of a firearm on state land
Engaging in conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury
Possession of a rifle after a felony conviction
Possession of regulated firearms after a felony conviction
Littering in a state forest

Each brother faces charges related to firearm possession and illegal activity on state lands, while Tywon and Deondre face additional charges for their actions during and after the pursuit.

UPDATE 12/23/2024: Tireke Allen Straughn, 21, and Tywon Deontae Straughn, 23, both of Saint Inigoes, and Howard Anthony Straughn Jr., 25, of Easton, were arrested on December 23, 2024, following an investigation by the Natural Resources Police Southern Region.

All three face multiple charges stemming from an incident on November 28, 2024, involving firearms violations and illegal activity on state lands.

Tywon Straughn was cited by the Department of Natural Resources Police for negligent driving, reckless driving and attempt to elude police in official police vehicle by failing to stop.

Tireke Allen Straughn and Tywon Deontae Straughn are both charged with the following :

Handgun in a vehicle
Loaded handgun in a vehicle
Loaded handgun on a person
Handgun on a person
Possession of a firearm in a state forest
Illegally entering state lands
Target shooting in a non-designated area

Howard Anthony Straughn Jr. faces the following charges:

Handgun in a vehicle
Loaded handgun in a vehicle
Loaded handgun on a person
Handgun on a person
Possession of a firearm in a state forest
Illegally entering state lands

Arrest warrants for Tireke and Tywon were issued on December 13, 2024, by Judge Talia Thomas and served on December 23, 2024. They are currently being held without bond at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center. Bond review hearings for both are scheduled for December 26, 2024 St. Mary’s County District Court.

An arrest warrant was also issued for Howard Anthony Straughn Jr. on December 13, 2024, by Judge Talia Thomas and served on December 23, 2024. He is currently being held without bond in in Talbot County. A bond review hearing is scheduled for December 26, 2024, in Talbot County District Court.

Updates will be provided as soon as they become available on December 26, 2024.

11/29/2024: On Thursday, November 28, 2024, at approximately 9:20 p.m., Officers from the Department of Natural Resources Police advised a vehicle fled at a high rate of speed after an attempted traffic stop and requested additional police.

Officers located the vehicle overturned on Beachville Road a short time later and requested fire and rescue personnel to the scene.

Firefighters from Ridge, NAS Webster Field and Bay District were dispatched at 9:22 p.m. First Arriving Units located a single vehicle on its roof in a wooded area with two occupants ejected, and one being trapped underneath the vehicle.

Helicopters were requested for all four occupants.

Maryland State Police Aviation Command responded with Troopers 2, Trooper 4 and Trooper 7 to a nearby landing zone. Flight medics were advised multiple occupants were not wearing the seatbelts and the collision was high speed (reportedly over 80 or 90 mph).

All four male patients were flown to area trauma centers with various injuries.

Preliminary investigation found that during a premise check and investigation by Department of Natural Resources Police, multiple gunshots were heard, a short time after hearing them, the involved vehicle passed a DNR Officer at approximately 80mph, a traffic stop was attempted but the vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed until the crash occurred.

Multiple firearms were recovered from the scene. The incident and crash remains under investigation.

While the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief 3A was responding to the scene, they struck a deer, no injuries were reported, however, the vehicle has been taken out of service for repairs.

Updates will be provided when they become available.