LEONARDTOWN, MD (September 9, 2025) – State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Keion Steven Brooks, 27, of Great Mills, Maryland, was sentenced to LIFE plus 45 years in prison for his participation in a drive-by shooting, which killed one teenager and endangered the lives of five additional teenagers.
On Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 3:21 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to Pegg Road in Lexington Park for a reported shooting. Deputies arrived on scene and located two male victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Following a multi-day jury trial that concluded in November 2024, a St. Mary’s County jury convicted Brooks of one count of first-degree murder, for the killing of one teenage victim, and five counts of attempted first-degree murder for the attempted killing of the five additional teenage victims.
“This sentence demonstrates our office’s commitment to aggressively prosecuting senseless gun violence resulting in the loss of innocent life,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “Although we could never make each of these victims and victims’ families whole, I hope each of them can finally find peace and feel that justice has been delivered for the young man whose life was stolen and for every teenager who was targeted in this cowardly act of violence.”
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Donna C. Pettersen presented the sentencing hearing on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
Detective Austin Schultz and Sergeant Taylore Nauman of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were the lead investigators.
The Honorable Joseph M. Stanalonis presided over the case.
