WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (6/23/2016) Three men have been indicted in the gang slaying of a 15-year-old boy as he walked home from school last month, authorities announced.
Brandon Wingo was killed May 19 on Clifford Brown Walk. He was a student at Howard High School of Technology.
Kevon Harris-Dickerson, 20, of Newark; Zaahir Smith, 19, of Newark; and Diamonte Taylor, 18, of Wilmington, were indicted by a grand jury Monday for multiple charges including murder, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and conspiracy.
Police and prosecutors believe that all three men participated in the planning and aided in the commission of Brandon’s death, said Deparment of Justice spokesman Carl Kanefsky.
“The charges against the three men include gang participation as police and prosecutors believe that the three men were members of the Shoot To Kill, or STK, gang and that Brandon’s shooting was yet another violent act by the gang,” Kanefsky said.
In addition to charges related to Brandon’s murder on May 19, the indictment includes charges for crimes committed on May 3, May 5, May 16, May 30 and June 1, some of them as re-indictments now included as gang-related activity.
Latasha Pierce, 34, of Wilmington was indicted on charges related to providing a firearm to a person prohibited and falsely reporting it stolen to police.
At the time of the indictment, all three men were in custody on charges related to other incidents. Pierce was arrested Thursday morning.
“The case against these individuals continues to be built, but Wilmington Police and DOJ prosecutors felt there was probable cause for each charge, and it was necessary to bring these indictments now to try to disrupt some of the violence being perpetrated by gangs on Wilmington streets,” Attorney General Matt Denn said.
Harris-Dickerson is being held on $1.5-million cash bail, Smith on $2-million cash bail and Taylor on $1.5-million cash bail.
The charges:
Kevon Harris-Dickerson
Murder First Degree
Gang Participation
Possession of a Firearm During The Commission Of A Felony
Conspiracy First Degree
Conspiracy Second Degree
Possession Or Control Of A Firearm By A Person Prohibited
Aggravated Possession
Zaahir Smith
Murder First Degree
Gang Participation
Possession of a Firearm During The Commission Of A Felony – 3 counts
Conspiracy First Degree
Possession Or Control Of A Firearm By A Person Prohibited – 3 counts
Aggravated Menacing – 2 counts
Conspiracy Second Degree
Robbery First Degree
Carrying A Concealed Deadly Weapon
Possession Or Control of Ammunition By A Person Prohibited
Diamonte Taylor
Murder First Degree
Gang Participation
Possession of a Firearm During The Commission Of A Felony – 5 counts
Conspiracy First Degree
Possession Or Control Of A Firearm By A Person Prohibited
Aggravated Menacing – 2 counts
Conspiracy Second Degree
Assault First Degree – 2 counts
Robbery First Degree
Reckless Endangering First Degree – 2 counts
Latasha Pierce
Giving A Firearm To A Person Prohibited
Conspiracy Second Degree
Falsely Reporting An Incident
Providing A False Statement To Law Enforcement
“The Wilmington Police Criminal Investigations Division works diligently to solve all homicides,” said Wilmington Police Chief Bobby L. Cummings. “As a result of the hard work put forward by our detectives and the Attorney General’s Office, we are pleased that indictments could be issued for the tragic taking of this young man’s life.”
15-year-old boy shot to death in Wilmington is identified