Talbot County, Maryland Man Shot in Dispute over Common Girlfriend; Extensive Manhunt Leads to Arrest and Hospitalization of Suspect
A Clinton, Maryland man was arrested and is currently hospitalized following a 24-hour manhunt that ensued in Talbot County that covered several thousand acres of woods and marsh. The search continued all night during the severe storms of August 7 and 8th. The victim, identified as 39-year-old Jahari De’Mon Cooper of Talbot County, had been shot while on the road in his vehicle, in a dispute over a common girlfriend, according to the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office. Following the initial manhunt, 36-year-old Stewart Orlando Ray was then located in the Washington D.C. metro area–at the Potomac Yard shopping center yesterday afternoon. Talbot County Sheriff’s investigators made contact with the United States Marshals, Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARTIF), which then led to his arrest. While CARTIF attempted to apprehend Ray, he was shot. Ray was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Ray is currently on probation for a 2009 conviction of attempted second degree murder.
Additional Information from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office:
On August 6, 2023 at approximately 9:00 pm. Deputies from the Talbot County Sheriff’s
Office responded to the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health at Easton in
reference to a shooting victim. Patrol deputies and criminal investigators learned that the
victim of the shooting, Jahari De’Mon Cooper, 39 of Talbot County, Maryland, was
driving a motor vehicle near the community of Unionville when the suspect, Stewart
Orlando Ray, 36 of Clinton, MD passed the victim’s vehicle on Unionville Road and
pulled off. As the victim passed the now stopped suspect vehicle, Ray shot at the victim
multiple times striking the victim and his vehicle. The victim drove himself to the
emergency room for treatment.
Ray fled the area in his motor vehicle where he failed to stop for a stop sign at the
intersection of Unionville Road and Bruffs Island Road, left the roadway and struck
several parked vehicles, disabling his vehicle. Ray’s vehicle has been recovered by
police. Ray fled the area on foot into a large wooded area in rural Talbot County.
A 24-hour manhunt ensued in Talbot County that covered several thousand acres of
woods and marsh. The search for Ray continued all night during the severe storms of
August 7 and 8 th . Investigation revealed Ray specifically targeted the victim over a
dispute with a common girlfriend. An arrest warrant has been obtained charging Ray with
Attempted Murder, First Degree Assault, Reckless Endangerment and Use of a Firearm –
Felony/Violent Crime.
During the very early morning hours of August 8, 2023, criminal investigators uncovered
information that Ray may have slipped through the search area during the severe
thunderstorms and made his way back to the Washington DC metro area. Talbot County
Sheriff’s investigators made contact with the United States Marshals, Capitol Area
Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARTIF) and provided their investigators with
information as to the possible location of the suspect.
According to a press release from the Alexandria Police Department.
“On Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at approximately 12:46 pm the Alexandria Police
Department responded to a shooting in the 3600 Block of Richmond Highway. Upon
arriving, officers learned that the U.S. Marshals, Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task
Force (CARTIF) located a wanted fugitive in the Potomac Yard shopping center. While
CARTIF attempted to apprehend the suspect, he was shot. The suspect was transported
to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.”
Stewart Orlando Ray, 36 of Clinton, Prince Georges County, MD, has been identified as
the suspect that CARTIF arrested and is currently hospitalized. Ray is currently on
probation for a 2009 conviction of attempted second degree murder.
Detectives from the Alexandria Police Department are investigating the shooting and
have been communicating with Talbot County Sheriff’s Office investigators.
“I am incredibly grateful to the countless state, local and federal law enforcement officers
on the Eastern Shore, CARTIF, and the Alexandria Police Department who willingly put
themselves in harm’s way to make our community safer during this manhunt. During
these strange times, as the Maryland Legislature continues to make policing more
difficult, it is inspiring to know that there are still selfless men and women who are
willing to risk their lives daily for all of us, knowing that their every action will be
scrutinized by people who have risked nothing and have never known real danger. I can’t
thank these public servants enough for their sacrifice and heroism.” Said Sheriff Gamble.
Assisting agencies include the Maryland State Police, MSP Aviation, Maryland Natural
Resources Police, Easton Police Department, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office,
Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services,
Easton Volunteer Fire Department, CARTIF, Alexandria Police Department, and a
special thank you to the Ridgley Volunteer Fire Department, Canteen 4 for keeping all of
our police officers hydrated and fed during the manhunt in Talbot County.
The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at 410-822-1020, by email at
sheriff@talbotcountymd.gov, on Facebook at Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, or on our
website at talbotsheriff.org.
