LEONARDTOWN, MD (October 27, 2025) – On Thursday, October 23, 2025, at approximately 7:52 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check at a residence in Lexington Park after receiving a report that a female had left the home and had taken the caller’s gun. Deputies began searching the area and, at about 9:11 p.m., located the female suspect in a vehicle parked at MedStar Health on East Run Drive.
Preliminary indications are that, after several minutes of attempted communication, the suspect exited the vehicle, fled across the parking lot, and later pointed a handgun at deputies. Two deputies discharged their agency-issued firearms, striking her.
Deputies immediately rendered aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. The suspect, identified as Paige Taylor Hartness, 34, of Lexington Park, was transported by MedStar Aviation to an area hospital, where she remains hospitalized in stable condition. No other injuries were reported.
Corporal Tyler Payne, a 9-year and 11-month veteran, and Deputy Ian Flaherty, a 1-year and eight-month veteran of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, are identified as the deputies who discharged their weapons.
Pursuant to agency policy, both deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending investigations by the Sheriff’s Office’s Office of Professional Responsibilities and the Criminal Investigations Division.
This case remains under investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident and has not yet provided a statement is asked to contact Detective David Lawrence at 301-475-4200, ext. 8130, or by email at David.Lawrence@stmaryscountymd.gov.
Original News Release
Officer Involved Non-Fatal Shooting of Armed Subject
LEONARDTOWN, MD (October 24, 2025) – On Thursday, October 23, 2025, at approximately 7:52 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check at a residence in Lexington Park, where an individual told deputies that his female roommate had left the residence and was armed with a gun.
Numerous deputies began searching the area. At about 9:11 p.m., they located the subject in a vehicle parked at MedStar Health, 45870 East Run Drive in Lexington Park. Preliminary indications are that, after deputies arrived and attempted to communicate with the subject for several minutes, she exited the car and fled across the parking lot. At 9:19 p.m., officers confronted the subject again, and she pointed a gun at them. Two officers discharged their agency-issued firearms, striking the subject.
Deputies immediately rendered aid until emergency medical personnel arrived on scene. The subject, a 34-year-old female, was taken by MedStar Aviation Transport to an area hospital for treatment and is currently listed in stable condition. No other injuries were reported.
Investigators recovered a semiautomatic handgun at the scene.
In accordance with Maryland law, the Independent Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General was notified and responded to the scene. After assessing the situation and receiving updates on the subject’s medical condition from the hospital, the division declined to assume the investigation.
Per agency policy, the involved deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending investigations by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Responsibilities and the Criminal Investigations Division.
This case is open, and updates will be provided as available. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident and has not yet given a statement is asked to contact Detective David Lawrence at 301-475-4200, ext. 8130, or by email at David.Lawrence@stmaryscountymd.gov.
