A married couple has been convicted of murder after a confrontation outside their home in Lexington Park, Maryland, ended with a man being shot dead.
David Scott Jones, 59, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, while his wife, Djhonna Mari Jones, 47, was found guilty of first- and second-degree murder following a two-day trial before a judge.
The convictions relate to the death of 38-year-old Carl Joseph Carpenter on October 27, 2025. The shooting happened outside the couple’s home on Bellevue Court, according to court records.
Mr Carpenter had gone to the property to give someone a lift to work. As he began reversing out of the driveway, another vehicle arrived and blocked his car.
David Jones got out and demanded that Mr Carpenter leave his vehicle. When the victim asked him to move the car blocking the driveway, Jones refused and the argument escalated.
Court records state that Djhonna Jones then went inside the house, retrieved a loaded firearm and handed it to her husband, who was prohibited from possessing a gun.
A physical struggle followed. As Mr Carpenter tried to get back to his vehicle, David Jones shot him several times, killing him.
Djhonna Jones was also convicted of using a firearm during a violent crime and unlawfully transferring a regulated firearm, according to local court reporting. The verdict was delivered on October 14 by St Mary’s County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Stanalonis.
State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling said: “This encounter never should have escalated to such violence. The victim was simply trying to help someone get to work when he was met with an immediate death sentence.”
She added: “There is nothing that can make this loss any less devastating for the people who knew and loved the victim.”
David Jones faces a maximum sentence of life in prison plus 20 years. His wife faces a maximum of life plus 25 years.
A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered, and a date for sentencing had not been announced.
