It's hard to say from the pic given. Where are you located? In our area similar dead ends have occurred to CMs but it has been winter damage. Winter damage should be pruned out to make the shrub look healthier.

I am in VA. This was our primary home that has now been rented out so I wasn't there to do any pruning last season.

Anyplace north of Little Rock I would assume winter damage. My Crapes are perennials. I gotta figure out what varieties a couple folks around town have as I see a few that are true bushes.

Where in VA? There was just a bit of winter damage to a few CM varieties in Northern VA after last winter. They are so late to leaf out that one wouldn't know until well into summer.