UPDATED: 28 year old Salisbury Man Sentenced in 2023 July 4th Block Party Shooting in Salisbury
UPDATED – 10/16/25 – A Salisbury man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that happened in 2023. The sentence comes following a five-day jury trial. Antravon Harmon was sentenced to a total term of incarceration of 258 years, 45 years of which is without possibility of parole. The 28-year-old received the sentence today in Wicomico County Circuit Court after being convicted of eight counts of First-Degree Assault and Firearm Use in a Crime of Violence.
The conviction stems from a July 2023 shooting where Harmon and an accomplice fired into a neighborhood 4th of July party, killing Xavier Maddox and wounding seven others. Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes stated that this violence in the community must stop–adding that she hopes the sentence serves as notice that there is a price to pay for such actions.
===========================================
UPDATED – 07/29/25 – A 17 year old from Salisbury has been sentenced for 1st degree murder and a weapons offense in the shooting death of 14 year old Xavier Maddox during a July 4th Block Party in the area of Chippewa Boulevard and Kiowa Avenue in 2023. Circuit Court for Wicomico County Judge S. James Sarbanes sentenced J’Shawn Drayton to life in prison with all but 40 years suspended and a concurrent term of 10 years on the firearm charge. Drayton will also serve 5 years of supervised probation. Drayton pleaded guilty on March 6 and has been held in custody pending sentencing.
The July 4th shooting left Maddox dead and 6 others injured in what officials say was an ongoing gang war. Three other co-defendants have been convicted of related charges to this incident and await sentencing.
===========================================
UPDATED – 07/22/25 – A Salisbury man has been convicted of multiple assault and firearms charges. The conviction comes after a five-day jury trial in the Circuit Court of Wicomico County. Judge Matthew Maciarello has postponed sentencing for 28 year old Antravon Harmon pending completion of a pre-sentence investigation – Harmon was convicted of 8 counts of 1st degree assault, 8 counts of firearm use in a crime of violence and related offenses. Harmon will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Court records show Harmon arrived in the area of Chippewa and Kiowa Avenue on July 4, 2023 where a neighborhood party was underway. Shortly after midnight on the 5th, Harmon and another person armed themselves with handguns and encountered Xavier Maddox and others. Harmon and the other person began firing into the crowd leaving Maddox dead and 7 others with gunshot wounds. State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes says Harmon faces up to 378 years of incarceration – including a mandatory minimum of 45 years.
========================================================
Additional stories:
09/30/23 – 22-year-old Salisbury Man Indicted in Connection With Block Party Shooting on July 5th
08/13/23 – Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrest in July Shooting in Salisbury
07/27/23 – Investigation Still Ongoing into Block Party Shooting Earlier This Month
========================================================
ORIGINAL STORY – 07/05/23 – One person is dead and six others wounded after a shooting at a block party in Salisbury overnight. The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident that was reported shortly after midnight on Chippewa Boulevard in the area of Kiowa Avenue in Salisbury. A 14-year-old from Salisbury was taken to Tidal health but died of his gunshot wounds. The other six are being treated at Tidal health, and officials do not believe the injuries to those individuals are life-threatening. The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about this incident to please contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 410-548-4898. Anyone with information can also contact Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776 where you can share the information anonymously.
Statement from Governor Wes Moore on the Shooting:
Governor Wes Moore released the following statement on the mass shooting that took place in Salisbury, Maryland:
“In just a few days, two mass shootings in our beloved state have taken lives and ripped at the fabric of our communities. I grieve with the victims in Salisbury and their loved ones, as well as the community that has lost one of their own. To those who are hurting: My heart is with you.
I would like to thank our first responders who rushed to the scene, and I am confident that law enforcement will bring those who committed this vile act to justice. I spoke earlier this morning with both the county executive of Wicomico and the mayor of Salisbury. I will continue to stay in close contact with local officials and authorities and will assist in every way possible.
These incidents show that this scrounge of gun violence is not something that any one community or any one group is wrestling with. Whether you live in a big city or a small rural town, these tragedies impact all of us—the families who are no longer whole during holidays; the parents who don’t get to see their kids graduate; the siblings who lose their best friend.
I speak for everyone when I say, again, that we have had enough. My administration will not stop in our mission to prevent tragic acts of violence like the one we have witnessed.”
Statement on Shooting from County Executive Julie Giordano–July 5th, 2023:
County Executive Julie Giordano released the following statement on the mass shooting that took
place early this morning in Salisbury:
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and our community. Tragedies like this,
especially those that involve the death of a child are inexcusable. I would like to personally thank
the brave men and women at our Sherriff’s Office who not only worked the crime scene, but who
are working diligently to apprehend the suspect(s). I want to also thank Governor Wes Moore
for personally reaching out to me this morning offering assistance in any way.
Public Safety is top priority of the citizens here in Wicomico County, as well as my
administration. We will keep working with local and state officials, as well as law enforcement,
to keep our citizens safe and prevent such events from occurring.”