Salisbury Man Convicted of Murdering His Father

Wicomico County, MD - A Salisbury man is heading toward sentencing after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder this week.

On June 4, 2026, a jury convicted Ja'Bril Walters, 32, of Salisbury, Maryland, following a four-day trial in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. Judge S. James Sarbanes presided over the case.

In addition to first-degree murder, Walters was convicted of second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, and altering physical evidence.

The crime dates back to the early morning hours of February 22, 2025. According to evidence presented at trial, Walters received a Facebook message from his father at 3:58 a.m. The message demanded that Walters pay his share of rent and other expenses or be removed from the lease.

What followed was a deadly attack. Walters fired seven gunshots at his father, and every round hit its mark. The victim died at the scene.

His body wasn't found until hours later, after worried family members called police for a welfare check.

After the shooting, Walters fled the apartment and left the area. Investigators with the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit tracked him first to North Carolina and then all the way to Maine, where he was arrested in July 2025.

At the time of the murder, Walters was already prohibited from legally owning a firearm due to his prior criminal history.

Wicomico County State's Attorney Jamie L. Dykes did not hold back in her response to the verdict.

"The Defendant committed this heinous crime in cold blood," Dykes said. "The utter disregard he showed for the life of the victim was on full display in the brutality with which he committed the murder and the indifference he displayed in the months following his act. The jury's thoughtful and considered verdict is a stark reminder that violence in Wicomico County will not be tolerated."

Dykes praised the lead investigators, Sergeant J. Meier of the Maryland State Police and Detective D. Fairman of the Salisbury Police Department. She also recognized Senior Assistant State's Attorney Michael Calabrese and Deputy State's Attorney Scott Messersmith for prosecuting the case.

Sentencing has been deferred pending a pre-sentence investigation. Walters will remain in custody until that time.