3 Men Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Victim In Columbia Parking Lot

COLUMBIA, MD — Three Baltimore men have been charged in connection to the August 2025 fatal shooting of Leon Grant in Columbia.

Montreal Proctor, 26; Talondo Short, 36; and Damon Simpson Jr., 34, have been charged with first- and second-degree murder, assault and firearm violations. Proctor and Short are being held at the Howard County Detention Center without bond. Simpson already is in jail for an unrelated case in another jurisdiction, the police department stated.

Grant, 39, of Salisbury was found dead in a vehicle Aug. 19, 2025. The vehicle was in a parking lot off of Dove Sail Lane and Merriweather Drive. During their investigation, detectives gathered evidence, video surveillance and interviewed witnesses. They determined that Grant met Proctor at the Columbia parking lot, according to the police department.

As Grant was getting into Proctor’s vehicle, Short and Simpson approached the men in another vehicle and Grant was shot. Proctor remained at the scene and spoke with responding officers, while Simpson and Short fled the area. Investigators have confirmed that Proctor and Grant knew each other, and the incident appears to have been targeted. The motive remains under investigation.

Anyone with additional information should contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov.