UPDATED: Salisbury Man Sentenced to Life without Parole after Murder of Father
Image courtesy Wicomico County State’s Attorney
UPDATED – 09/22/26 – A Salisbury man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Ja’Bril Walters was convicted during a a four-day jury trial for 1st and 2nd degree murder, assault, firearms offenses and altering physical evidence. Circuit Court for Wicomico County Judge S. James Sarbanes sentenced the 33 year old Walters last Friday.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney (SA) Jamie L. Dykes said, “The taking of a life is a sinister crime, and even more so when a son murders their own father in cold blood. The Court’s strong sentence ensures that this Defendant will be imprisoned for the remainder of his life where he can no longer harm others in our community.”
SA Dykes commended Sergeant J. Meier of the Maryland State Police and Detective D. Fairman of the Salisbury Police Department, the lead investigators, and all of the various officers and agencies involved in the effort to investigate the crime and to locate and apprehend the Defendant. SA Dykes also commended Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Calabrese and Deputy State’s Attorney D. Scott Messersmith, who prosecuted the case and advocated for justice.
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UPDATED – 06/05/26 – A Salisbury man has been convicted of murder by a Wicomico County jury. After a 4-day trial in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, 32 year old Ja’Bril Walters was found guilty in the shooting death of his father in February of 2025. Walters was convicted of 1st and 2nd degree murder, 1st and 2nd degree assault and weapons offenses. Sentencing was deferred pending receipt of a pre-sentence investigation. Walters will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Court records show Walters received a Facebook message from his father demanding Walters pay his fair share of the rent and expenses or he would be removed from the lease. Walters fired seven shots at the victim who died at the scene. The victim’s body
was discovered hours later when worried family members called police for a welfare check.
Walters left the home after the shooting – and the area. Investigators of the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit tracked Walters first to North Carolina, and then to Maine, where he was ultimately apprehended in July of 2025. Walters was prohibited from possessing a regulated firearm at the time of the murder due to his previous criminal history.
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UPDATED – 02/23/25 – Maryland State Police have identified the victim as 57 year old Roy Walters of Salisbury. Walters was pronounced dead by EMS personnel from the Salisbury Fire Department. When Salisbury Police entered Walter’s home he was found lying on the floor unresponsive. Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was requested to take the lead in the investigation. It’s believed the shooting occurred around 3:50am on Saturday. Police are looking for 31 year old Ja’Bril Walters of Princess Anne, who is the son of the victim and has an outstanding warrant in relation to a first-degree assault that occurred in July of 2024. Police believe he may have information related to his father’s death. If you know of Ja’Bril’s whereabouts – contact Sgt Joe Meier at 443-515-0034.
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ORIGINAL STORY – 02/22/25 – Salisbury Police checking on the welfare of a man at a home on Parsons Road Saturday evening found he was the victim of apparent gunfire. Maryland State Police are the lead investigative agency for this incident and ask anyone with information to contact them at 410-749-3101 or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.