On a late August night in Columbia’s Merriweather District, a 39-year-old Salisbury man was found shot to death in a parked car. Now, Howard County police say three men from Baltimore are responsible.
Detectives have charged Montreal Proctor, 26, Talondo Short, 36, and Damon Simpson Jr., 34, with first- and second-degree murder, assault, and multiple firearm violations in connection with the Aug. 19, 2025, killing of Leon Grant Jr. in a parking lot near Merriweather Post Pavilion. According to police, two of the men are being held in Howard County, and the third is incarcerated in another jurisdiction.
Police announced the charges on Tuesday, saying investigators identified the suspects through witness statements, video surveillance, and physical evidence gathered during what they described as an extensive investigation. As reported by FOX45/WBFF, Proctor stayed at the scene and spoke with officers, while Short and Simpson left the area.
The shooting happened around 10:35 p.m. on Aug. 19, 2025, in a parking lot off Dove Sail Lane and Merriweather Drive, just steps from Merriweather Post Pavilion. Officers found Grant dead inside a vehicle. In a Howard County Police Department press release, detectives called the attack targeted and offered a reward for tips. earlier coverage of the fatal shooting detailed the initial report and early stages of the investigation.
How Investigators Say They Tied the Suspects to the Case
Detectives say a mix of eyewitness accounts, surveillance footage, and collected evidence pointed to Proctor, Short, and Simpson as the men involved in the encounter that ended with Grant shot inside his car. Police told FOX45/WBFF that Grant and Proctor knew each other and that video and witness statements helped investigators narrow down the suspects.
Legal Status and Next Steps
All three men are charged with first- and second-degree murder, assault, and multiple firearms offenses. According to public records and police statements, Proctor and Short are being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center, while Simpson remains jailed in another jurisdiction on an unrelated matter. Court dates and charging documents were not released with the initial announcement. Howard County police are still asking anyone with information to call 410-313-STOP or email [email protected], as outlined in their release.
Community Reaction and Policing
The killing has renewed focus on safety in the Merriweather and downtown Columbia areas, where county officials have been working to clamp down on violent crime with extra policing and targeted strategies. As part of that push, officials have rolled out expanded patrols and set up a satellite police office near the Mall in Columbia and the Merriweather District. Local residents told reporters they were rattled by a targeted killing in a busy entertainment zone; see WMAR-2 News for details on the county’s plan and WBALTV for additional local reaction.
