Salisbury Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Attempted Murder of Estranged Wife

SALISBURY, Md. – Dequan Bratten, who was convicted of shooting his estranged wife four times, has been sentenced to a life term, with all but 50 years of active incarceration suspended.

The Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office says the 33-year-old was sentenced in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County on Friday, Mar. 20. Judge S. James Sarbanes imposed the sentence. It follows Bratten’s conviction in Apr. 2025 after he plead guilty to first degree attempted murder and firearm in a crime of violence. Once released, he will be on supervised probation for an additional three years.

SA Jamie L. Dykes issued the following statement in light of Bratten’s sentencing:

“This case is a chilling reminder of why we must be relentless in our effort to enforce firearms restrictions laws. Dequan Bratten was prohibited from possessing the firearm he used on November 16th, yet a single illicit transaction provided him with the means to turn a domestic dispute into a near-fatal tragedy. The victim’s survival is a miracle, but it does not erase the fact that this entire event was facilitated by a criminal disregard by Bratten and White for the laws governing legal possession and transfer of firearms. Absent Bratten’s prohibited access to the firearm in question, a rash and violent impulse may never have escalated into a life-altering crime.”

The investigation revealed that on Nov. 16, 2024, Bratten confronted his estranged wife regarding alleged infidelity. Following the confrontation, Bratten obtained a handgun and ammunition through an illegal straw purchase involving an associate, Terrance White. White was sentenced to 10 years in prison in February. Despite the severity of the injuries sustained, the victim survived the attack.