In the quiet of a Thursday evening in Lexington Park, Maryland, the life of James Brian Thompson, a 55-year-old man, was violently cut short in what police have described as a home invasion. On March 10, 2022, deputies from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence on Oregon Way at 9:27 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Thompson inside his home, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate life-saving efforts of first responders, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation into the homicide quickly revealed a harrowing story. Witnesses reported seeing three armed men in ski masks involved in the incident. According to court documents, the events began to unfold when Thompson's son was accosted by three Black males in all-black clothing and ski masks as he sat in his vehicle outside the residence. The assailants, one of whom brandished a firearm, questioned him before forcing him into the house at gunpoint. Inside, the situation escalated, leading to James Brian Thompson being fatally shot.
In the wake of the shooting, a significant breakthrough in the case came from Thompson's own son, who was present during the tragic event. He was able to identify one of the suspects as 19-year-old Rylan John Somerville of Lexington Park, whom he knew personally. Further investigation led to the arrest of another individual in connection with the murder. On March 18, 2022, Lakisha Rena Rhodes, the 43-year-old mother of the identified suspect, was taken into custody. The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office has continued to investigate the case, urging anyone with information to come forward.
