LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — In the early hours of June 8, a quiet neighborhood in St. Mary’s County was jolted awake by a high-speed pursuit and manhunt that followed a smash-and-grab burglary at a local liquor store. Authorities have since charged four individuals from Washington, D.C., in connection with the coordinated heist and subsequent police chase.
Early Morning Break-In at Canopy Liquors
According to charging documents filed in St. Mary’s District Court, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Canopy Liquors on Great Mills Road just after 4 a.m. following a triggered alarm. Upon arrival, deputies found the glass front door shattered. Inside and outside the store, dozens of Maryland Lottery scratch-off tickets were scattered — clear evidence of a rushed theft.
Surveillance video captured a light-colored Honda sedan backing into the parking lot moments before the break-in. At least three suspects, masked and wearing hooded clothing, were seen exiting the vehicle and forcefully kicking in the store’s front door.
Once inside, the suspects quickly targeted the store’s lottery ticket display. They allegedly removed multiple scratch-off tickets and the display cases themselves before fleeing the scene. A fourth suspect, who initially stayed inside the car, is believed to have assisted in the burglary before the group drove off eastbound on Great Mills Road.
High-Speed Pursuit and Foot Chase
Thanks to the surveillance footage and a quick dispatch response, patrol officers were provided with a vehicle description. Just minutes later, deputies spotted a matching Honda sedan nearby. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle fled, initiating a dangerous pursuit that stretched through parts of St. Mary’s County.
The chase came to a halt in Mechanicsville when deputies deployed stop sticks on Three Notch Road. The car was disabled, and its occupants fled on foot into nearby residential and wooded areas.
Suspicious BMW Intercepted
Shortly after the suspects scattered, law enforcement observed a silver BMW with Virginia license plates speeding out of a nearby neighborhood. Deputies stopped the vehicle and detained four individuals inside — one female driver and three male passengers. One of the passengers was reportedly shirtless and sweating, a possible indication that he had just fled from the disabled Honda.
Visible inside the BMW were two hoodies believed to match those worn by the suspects captured on the liquor store’s security footage. These articles of clothing became key evidence linking the detained individuals to the burglary.
Manhunt Yields Additional Arrests
With assistance from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, K9 units, and aerial surveillance, deputies continued their search in nearby wooded areas. One additional suspect was apprehended while attempting to flee the area in another vehicle near the Drift Inn Crab House.
Authorities believe the suspects used multiple vehicles and coordinated meeting points in an effort to escape detection and regroup post-burglary.
Four Charged with Multiple Felonies
As a result of the extensive investigation, four suspects have been formally charged in connection with the burglary:
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Ejion Davantai Thorton, 18
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Darryl C. Harrison, 22
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David Burch, 29
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Javeion White, 18
All four are residents of Washington, D.C., hailing from different neighborhoods within the district. Each faces multiple felony charges, including:
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Second- and third-degree burglary
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Theft between $1,500 and $25,000
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Malicious destruction of property over $1,000
Surveillance and Forensic Evidence
According to investigators, suspect Ejion Thorton was positively identified through Washington Metro Police photographic records. He also allegedly confirmed his nickname as “Lil E” during questioning. Charging documents detail that Thorton and his co-defendants used cell phones to coordinate transportation and establish meeting points for the execution of the burglary.
Court Hearings and Detention
All four suspects were brought before Judge James Tanavage in St. Mary’s District Court on June 9 for bail review hearings. Citing the seriousness of the charges and the coordinated nature of the crime, the judge ordered that all four defendants be held without bond.
Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for July 8, 2025, where prosecutors are expected to present further evidence regarding the organized nature of the crime and the suspects’ roles in the burglary and attempted escape.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement continuing to review digital evidence, forensic data, and surveillance footage. Authorities are also working to determine if the group may be connected to other similar thefts or burglaries in the region or surrounding jurisdictions.
Residents in the Lexington Park area are encouraged to report any additional information that may assist investigators by contacting the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
As the case unfolds, local officials are reminding businesses to review their security protocols and ensure that alarm systems and surveillance cameras are fully operational to aid in future investigations.
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