Princess Anne’s quiet streets turned grim Monday afternoon when a routine drive down Dryden Lane ended with a burst of gunfire, one man dead and another fighting for his life. Maryland State Police say two Salisbury teenagers are now in custody, accused in the shooting that has shaken the community.
Just after 2 p.m. on January 26, Somerset County deputies and troopers responded to the 11000 block of Dryden Lane for reports of gunshots. When they arrived, they found two men inside a parked SUV riddled with bullets. One man, identified as 46‑year‑old Derrick Knox of Salisbury, was already dead.
The other victim, 41‑year‑old Kevin Pillar, also from Salisbury, was critically wounded. Maryland State Police Aviation Command flew him to a shock trauma center for emergency care. Authorities have not released updates on his condition.
Police say the shooting does not appear to be random, though a clear motive hasn’t been determined. Officers cordoned off the scene as detectives from the State Police Homicide Unit and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office began piecing together what happened that afternoon.
Not long after the shooting, a 17‑year‑old girl from Salisbury was found near Stewart Neck Road and Beckford Road. She was taken into custody without incident. The following morning, a 16‑year‑old boy, also from Salisbury, was arrested at his home.
Both teens are now facing a slate of charges, including first‑degree felony murder, second‑degree murder, robbery, and other related counts. They are being held without bond in separate detention facilities as the investigation continues. Police say more arrests may be coming as officers follow leads.
Neighbors described the scene as a shocking break from the usual calm. People who live nearby said hearing about the arrests brought both relief and sorrow — relief that suspects are off the streets, sorrow for the life taken and the family grieving.
Investigators urge anyone who saw something or knows something to contact the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit at 443‑515‑0034. Officials stress that even small details might help them understand why a peaceful afternoon turned deadly on Dryden Lane.
