Xavier Le’Drew Hudson, 20, Oakdale, was convicted on Sept. 20 of 10 felony offenses, including aiding and abetting murder in the second degree. Hudson, though 17 at the time of the shooting, was tried as an adult. The shootout killed 14-year-old Demaris Hobbs Ekdahl on June 5, 2021. The complaint described Hudson’s involvement with a group that allegedly confronted Demaris, his brother Davion, and others, with guns at a graduation party in the 6100 block of Edgewood Road in Woodbury around 10:30 p.m. that night.

According to the Office of the Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson, after the confrontation Demaris, Davion, and their friends left the party and called their stepfather Keith Dawson. Dawson met his stepsons and their friends in Maplewood and encouraged them to return to the party with him to confront the group. Dawson drove his SUV, while the others followed closely behind in a car. When they arrived, Dawson fired several shots before driving away. The car occupied by Demaris, and others continued to follow behind as 40 gunshots were fired in their direction by Hudson’s group. One of those bullets passed through the back of the car and struck Demaris. He was later pronounced dead at Regions Hospital from blood loss due to the gunshot wound.

Dawson pleaded guilty to drive-by shooting in January of this year and is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence. Two people, including Hudson, faced charges in the return fire that hit and killed Demaris. Enrique Davila remains in custody at the Washington County Jail ahead of his jury trial, slated for Dec. 11, 2023. Jaden Townsend pleaded guilty in June 2022 to aiding and abetting second-degree assault and received a three-year prison sentence.

After a nine-day trial, a jury consisting of nine men and three women began deliberations on Thursday afternoon, returning a guilty verdict just after 1 p.m. Friday.

“While no outcome can ever fully heal the wounds of such a heartbreaking incident, today's verdict brings some measure of justice to the grieving family of Demaris,” said Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson. “I am grateful to our prosecution team and to our law enforcement partners for their tireless dedication to this case, sending a strong message that senseless gun violence will not go unpunished.”

Hudson remains in custody at the Washington County Jail awaiting a sentencing date yet to be determined. Assistant Washington County Attorneys Scott Haldeman and Justin Collins pro