Salisbury Teen Sentenced to 40 Years for First-Degree Murder from July 4th Shooting

Wicomico County, MD - On July 25, 2025, J'Shawn Drayton, 17, of Salisbury, Maryland, was sentenced in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County on charges of First-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in a Crime of Violence. Administrative Judge S. James Sarbanes presided over the case, sentencing Drayton to life imprisonment, suspending all but 40 years, and imposing an additional concurrent 10-year sentence for the firearm charge.

Following the active sentence, Drayton will serve five years of supervised probation. Drayton previously entered a guilty plea on March 6, 2025, and remained in custody until sentencing.

The charges stem from a violent incident that occurred during the late hours of July 4, 2023, and into the early morning of July 5, 2023, at a neighborhood gathering on Chippewa Blvd. and Kiowa Avenue in Salisbury, Maryland.

The party became the scene of violence when Drayton, accompanied by a co-defendant, armed himself with a handgun. Together, they approached the location intending to escalate tensions associated with an ongoing gang conflict.

Shortly after midnight, Drayton and his co-defendant targeted Xavier Maddox, whom they believed to be a member of a rival gang. The confrontation resulted in gunfire that killed Maddox and injured seven others with non-fatal gunshot wounds.

The situation escalated into a broader shootout, contributing to significant violence in the area. Three additional co-defendants were convicted on charges related to the event and are awaiting their sentences.

Wicomico County State's Attorney Jamie L. Dykes addressed the conviction and its implications for community safety. "Violent gang activity, primarily involving young men in their teens and twenties, continues to escalate in Wicomico County," said Dykes. "My Office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate this lawless behavior and will continue to work tirelessly to hold the perpetrators to account. This conviction reflects that unwavering commitment."

State's Attorney Dykes commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, the Salisbury Police Department, and the Maryland State Police. Special acknowledgment was given to Detective Kirkpatrick of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office for her diligence and persistence in the investigation.

Deputy State's Attorney D. Scott Messersmith was also recognized for his leadership in prosecuting the case and pursuing justice for the victims.