SALISBURY, Md. — A 17-year-old from Salisbury has received a 40-year prison sentence for his involvement in a gang-related shooting that occurred during a Fourth of July event in 2023. The incident resulted in one death and left seven others injured.
On Friday, J’Shawn Drayton was sentenced in Wicomico County Circuit Court to life in prison, with all but 40 years suspended. Additionally, he received a concurrent 10-year sentence for using a firearm in a violent crime. After serving his time, Drayton will be under supervised probation for five years.
Drayton pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and the firearm charge in March, having been in custody until sentencing.
Prosecutors reported that the shooting took place shortly after midnight on July 5, 2023, during a neighborhood party near Chippewa Boulevard and Kiowa Avenue in Salisbury. Armed with guns, Drayton and an accomplice approached the gathering as part of an ongoing gang rivalry. When they encountered 19-year-old Xavier Maddox, believed to be associated with a rival group, gunfire ensued. Maddox lost his life, and seven other attendees were injured by non-fatal gunshots.
Three other accomplices have been convicted in connection with the incident and are currently awaiting their sentences.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Dykes characterized the case as a reflection of rising youth violence driven by gang activity.
Dykes stated, “The rise in violent gang activity, predominantly among young men in their teens and twenties, is concerning in Wicomico County. My Office, alongside law enforcement partners, will not accept this illegal behavior and will continue to pursue accountability for those responsible.”
Dykes expressed her appreciation for the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury Police Department, and the Maryland State Police for their thorough investigation. She also commended Detective Kirkpatrick and Deputy State’s Attorney D. Scott Messersmith for their contributions to the prosecution.
At the time of the shooting, Drayton was just 15 years old but was charged and sentenced as an adult.
