Quadruple Amputee Cornhole Professional Faces Murder Charges After Fatal Shooting
Dayton Webber, a 27-year-old professional cornhole player who is a quadruple amputee, appeared in Charles County District Court via videoconference for a bail review on Wednesday. He is accused of shooting Bradrick Michael Wells, also 27, twice in the head during an argument, according to police charging documents. Judge Patrick Devine ordered Webber to remain jailed without bail, noting that he left Maryland after the March 22 shooting.
Self-Defense Claim and Legal Proceedings
Defense attorney Andrew Jezic told the court that Webber acted in self-defense and anticipates "a lengthy trial" to prove this claim. After the hearing, Jezic told reporters that his client was "terrified" at the time of Wells's killing. "The truth here is that [Webber] would have been a murder victim if he had not acted immediately in defense of his life," Jezic stated. Webber, who was extradited from Virginia, has not entered a plea yet and is due in court for a preliminary hearing on May 6. He also faces assault and firearm charges in addition to murder.
Background of the Incident and Relationship
Deputy State's Attorney Karen Piper Mitchell provided details in court, stating that witnesses in the car told authorities the argument was over a gun that a friend of Wells had stolen from Webber. Mitchell said Webber was upset that Wells was still friends with the thief. She noted that Webber and Wells had a history of arguing, including a 2024 incident in which Webber ordered Wells to leave his home. While Wells was leaving, Mitchell claimed Webber fired a shot from a second-floor window, though Jezic countered that Webber fired into the air.
In arguing for Webber to remain in custody, Mitchell highlighted that he drove to Virginia after the shooting and owns firearms. Authorities have not publicly addressed whether cameras in the Tesla captured the incident or if self-driving functionality was in use at the time.
Aftermath and Discovery of the Victim
According to charging documents, Webber pulled over after the shooting in La Plata, Maryland, and asked two backseat passengers to help remove the victim from the car. They refused, got out, and flagged down police officers. Webber then fled with Wells's body still in the vehicle. Two hours later, a resident in Charlotte Hall, about 10 miles away, found Wells's body in a yard along a road and notified officers. Detectives tracked Webber's car to Charlottesville, Virginia, where they found him at a hospital "seeking treatment for a medical issue," according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office.
Webber's Personal History and Public Profile
Webber, whose arms and legs were partly amputated at 10 months old due to a serious blood infection, has gained public attention as an inspirational figure. He was featured by ESPN in 2023 for his achievements, including riding dirt bikes, wrestling, and playing football before becoming a professional cornhole player. That same year, he wrote an essay for the Today show about his journey to becoming a professional competitor, explaining how he learned to grab bean bags by the corners and throw them using his arms. A YouTube video posted in 2024 shows Webber loading and firing a handgun.
Family members of Webber declined to comment after the hearing, leaving the case to unfold in court as legal arguments over self-defense continue.
