Salisbury 20-Year-Old Sentenced to 25 Years for Attempted Murder
SALISBURY, Md. – A Salisbury man has been sentenced to 25 years of active incarceration for his involvement in a shooting from Jul. 2025.
On Aug. 7, Judge S. James Sarbanes sentenced 20-year-old Semaj Ames to 50 years of incarceration, suspending all but 25 years in the Division of Corrections. Ames previously pleaded guilty on May 29, to second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and firearm use in a crime of violence. Upon release from prison, Ames will be on supervised probation for an additional three years.
“Gun violence does not end after the trigger is pulled,” said State’s Attorney Jamie L. Dykes. “My Office remains steadfast in its commitment to hold those who perpetrate acts of gun violence fully accountable under the law.”
On the evening of Jul. 20, 2025, following a conflict involving Ames, his girlfriend, and the father to his girlfriend’s child, Ames and his girlfriend drove to a residence located on Mohawk Avenue and fired a total of eight gunshots at the house before fleeing. No one was struck and only damage to the home was sustained.
Only an hour later, due to a related conflict, Ames’ girlfriend drove Ames to the location of his child’s mother on East Lincoln Street. A verbal altercation ensued in the street but quickly escalated when Ames drew his firearm for the second time that evening and pulled the trigger. The bullet missed Ames’ intended targets and instead struck a female who was standing in close proximity. Law enforcement responded immediately to the scene and medical personnel transported the victim to TidalHealth where she was treated for her injuries.
Ames fled the scene and enlisted family members to hide evidence of his crimes and transport him to Baltimore. Ames then fled to the State of Georgia where he was ultimately located by law enforcement and extradited to Maryland.
