UPDATE: On June 24, 2021, Leonard Charles Hall III, age 27 of Lusby, was located and arrested in Frederick, Maryland, for the murder of Valdez Rico Baker III, which occurred in the 21900 block of Chancellors Run Road in Great Mills. Members of the Youth Gun Violence Task Force transported Hall to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where he was charged with the following:

  • Murder-First Degree
  • Murder-Second Degree

The Youth Gun Violence Task Force wishes to thank the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Maryland State Police Apprehension Team for their assistance in the apprehension of Hall.

On June 23, 2021, members of the Youth Gun Violence Task Force with assistance from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and the Narcotics Division, arrested James Reginald Flanagan, age 24 of Lexington Park, for the murder of Valdez Rico Baker III. Flanagan was charged with the following:

  • Murder-First Degree
  • Murder-Second Degree
  • Accessory After the Fact to Murder First Degree

Hall and Flanagan remain incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center on a no-bond status.

On June 14, 2021, at approximately 7:07 p.m. deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 21900 block of Chancellors Run Road in Great Mills, for the reported shooting. Deputies located a male victim, age 19 of California, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head on the basketball court. The victim was transported by helicopter to an area trauma center for treatment where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Anyone with information regarding the shootings, or anyone who was at Chancellors Run Regional Park who witnessed the incident, and has not provided a statement is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (301) 475-4200 extension 71950 or the Youth Gun Task Force at (301) 475-4200 extension 78087 or by email at stopgunviolence@stmarysmd.com

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Youth Gun Violence Task Force is a collaborative effort with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Maryland State Police (MSP) and the State’s Attorney’s Office for St. Mary’s County to ensure the safety and security of all residents, through the arrest and prosecution of those seeking to do harm unto others through gun violence.

#StopGunViolence

Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637).  Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment.

UPDATE: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Gun Violence Task Force has reportedly made another arrest in the case of the homicide of Valdez Rico Baker III, age 19 of California. 

Police arrested Leonard Charles Hall III, 27, in connection to the shooting at Chancellor’s Run Regional Park from June 14. Hall reportedly approached the scene prior to the shooting, and Flanagan acted as a driver. The two reportedly fled the scene together following the reported shooting.

Hall is reportedly facing various charges, most notably murder in the first degree.

You can find more details below.

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — An arrest was recently made in the homicide case of Valdez Rico Baker III, age 19 of California, who was recently shot in the head at Chancellors Run Regional Park. On June 23, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Gun Violence Task Force arrested James Reginald Flanagan, age 24 of Lexington Park, in connection to the shooting.

Many recall the incident from June 14, 2021, where deputies responded to reports of someone suffering from a gunshot wound at the park and discovered an injured Baker on the basketball courts. Baker was later transported by helicopter to an area trauma center for treatment where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Flanagan is charged with first-degree and second-degree murder. He is currently being held on a no-bond status at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

Many may recall Flanagan, who some know by his rap name “Cruddy Black,” from a previous incident reported on a few years ago.

According to court documents filed by St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Detective Scott Ruest, on Nov. 11, 2017, officers responded to the area of Leeward Circle in Lexington Park for a reported shooting.

Police then located a male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso.

“The victim and witnesses provided some initial information on a possible suspect but no definitive identifying information,” Ruest stated. “Witnesses heard multiple gunshots fired when the incident occurred. The victim was later transported to a hospital and flown to a trauma center for emergency surgery.”

During the investigation, Ruest and other detectives obtained further information about the incident and a description of the shooter, who was subsequently identified as Flanagan.

“Additional witness interviews revealed a prior dispute between a witness and the defendant,” Ruest stated in court documents. “This witness contacted the defendant along with the victim. At the time, the defendant produced a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking the victim in the upper torso.”

Police used photographic lineups shown to several individuals, including the victim, to positively identify Flanagan as the gunman. Flanagan was arrested on an outstanding warrant 11 months later.

At his trial, Flanagan denied being in the area that day. His lawyer, Joshua Tarr, would go on to remind the jury that there was not a gun recovered at the scene and that other witnesses were not positive Flanagan was the shooter that day from the beginning.

A jury could not reach a unanimous consensus at his single-day trial, and he was found not guilty of all charges.

Flanagan’s latest preliminary hearing has been set for July 29, 2021. Other sources report that more arrests may come later in this case. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com