Fourteen members of the Wlmington gang have been indicted on more than 120 criminal charges, including six counts of murder, authorities announced Monday.
The indictment comes after a six-month long investigation involving the Delaware Department of Justice, Wilmington Police Department and New Castle County Police Department, and more agencies.
The six murder charges relate to deaths between Nov. 11, 2018, and April 21, 2021: Stephan Price, Taron Whaley, Ollier Henry, Taquan Davis, Shareef Hamilton and Dakevis Reed.
âGun violence has devastated families across Wilmington and gangs play an outsized role in that carnage,â said Attorney Gen. Kathleen Jennings in a press release. âDisrupting gang activity is critical to restoring public safety in Wilmington, and that requires complicated, resource-intensive investigations. ”
It wasn’t an easy job, she said, “but from the beginning, Wilmington and New Castle County were in with both feet.”
Wilmington Police Chief Robert J. Tracy credited partnerships with other agencies for the investigation’s success. They included the Delaware State Police, the Delaware Department of Correction, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
âThrough the implementation of evidence-based, proven crime reduction strategies, we have had great success identifying those responsible for driving gun violence in our city and throughout Delaware,” he said in the press release. “Indictments like these â the results of tireless investigations â help to prevent future violence and enhance public safety, while sending a clear and powerful message that gun violence and illegal gun possession will not be tolerated.â
Tracy said the indictments also are the result of enforcement efforts through Group Violence Intervention, in which “we blend the provision of social services and sharing of the moral voice of the community in an attempt to direct individuals away from crime and violence driven by senseless conflicts. Those who heed those warnings are provided support, while those who continue to engage in violence are held responsible through our enforcement efforts.â
New Castle County Police Chief Col. Vaughn M. Bond Jr. said, “Through these efforts violent offenders have been removed from our communities and the devastated families of our victims have the answers they deserve. Our state still has a significant challenge ahead in terms of violent crime.”
The NorthPak gang through it could get away with killing, said Rachel Byrd, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office.
âThe citizens of Delaware have the FBIâs commitment that we will work with our local, state and federal partners to target and dismantle violent street gangs that threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods,â She said.
Tracy pointed out a few weeks ago that the city was heavily targeting people will illegal firearms. Many of those indicted had been prohibited from having firearms in the first place, said Tim Jones, special agent in charge of the ATF Baltimore office.
â A gun in the hands of someone who has made the decision to live a life of crime is a constant and serious threat to anyone they encounter,” Jones said.
The full list of defendants and charges is:
- Elijah Coffield
- Illegal gang participation
- Two counts of murder first degree (Ollier Henry, Shareef Hamilton)
- Four counts of attempted murder first degree
- Four count of conspiracy first degree
- One count of reckless endangering first degree
- One count of attempted assault in a detention facility
- Eight counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Four counts of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited
- Gregory Wing
- Illegal gang participation
- Two counts of Murder First Degree (Ollier Henry, Taquan Davis)
- Four counts of Attempted Murder First Degree
- Three counts of Conspiracy First Degree
- Attempted Assault in a Detention Facility
- Seven counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Julius Smith, Jr.
- Illegal gang participation
- Murder first degree (Dakevis Reed)
- Attempted murder first degree
- Conspiracy first degree
- Two counts of conspiracy second degree
- Receiving stolen property
- Disregarding a police officerâs signal
- Three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Two counts of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited
- Jacari Robinson
- Illegal gang participation
- Murder first degree (Dakevis Reed)
- Attempted murder first degree
- Conspiracy first degree
- Conspiracy second degree
- Receiving stolen property
- Three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited
- Markevis Clark
- Illegal gang participation
- Murder first degree (Taron Whaley)
- Attempted murder first degree
- Conspiracy first degree
- Three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Zymir Hynson
- Illegal gang participation
- Murder first degree (Taron Whaley)
- Attempted murder first degree
- Conspiracy first degree
- Three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Davine Boyce
- Illegal gang participation
- Murder first degree (Stephan Price)
- Two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited
- Caleb Lancaster
- Illegal gang participation
- Attempted murder first degree
- Conspiracy first degree
- Two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited
- Deshonne Moore
- Illegal gang participation
- Robbery first degree
- Assault first degree
- Three counts of conspiracy second degree
- Receiving stolen property
- Disregarding a police officerâs signal
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited
- Resisting arrest
- Criminal mischief
- Rashawn George
- Illegal gang participation
- Robbery first degree
- Carrying a concealed deadly weapon
- Two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Dion Young
- Illegal gang participation
- Conspiracy second degree
- Attempted assault in a detention facility
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Khalil Rodriguez-Fitzgerald
- Illegal gang participation
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Amire Pierce
- Illegal gang participation
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Malik Benson
- Illegal gang participation
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.
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