Delaware News

Biden’s office secures murder indictments for Paladin Club shooting deaths

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, September 15, 2014



Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden today announced the indictments of two New Castle County men for the September, 2013 shooting deaths of a couple at the Paladin Club apartments.

“I want to recognize my staff and the New Castle County Police Department for their dogged pursuit of evidence in this very complex and time-consuming investigation,” Biden said. “Their extremely hard work and perseverance over the past year led to multiple arrests and today’s indictments. Even as we proceed with these prosecutions, I remind the public that the investigation into these senseless killings remains active and ongoing.”

Earlier today, Biden’s office secured murder indictments from the New Castle County Grand Jury against 31 year-old Christopher Rivers and 23 year-old Dominique Benson, who were each charged earlier this month with the early morning September, 22 2013 shooting that killed Joseph Connell and his wife Olga Connell, both 39 years of age, outside their residence.

Rivers has been indicted on:
• Two counts of First Degree Murder
• Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• One count of Conspiracy 1st Degree
• One Count of Criminal Solicitation 1st Degree

Benson has been indicted on:
• Two counts of First Degree Murder
• Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• One count of Conspiracy 1st Degree

Rivers has been held without bail since his September 3 arrest. Benson has been held without bail since his September 5 arrest.

New Castle County Police Chief, Colonel Elmer Setting said today: “The collaborative effort brought forth by our Criminal Investigations Unit and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office displays their hard work and dedication in bringing those responsible to justice. This is another example that these cases are never forgotten and the County Police remain relentless in pursuing those who commit these crimes. With each arrest, we hope that the family, friends, loved ones and communities impacted by these senseless acts can begin to have some closure.”

The Delaware Department of Justice reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Biden’s office secures murder indictments for Paladin Club shooting deaths

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, September 15, 2014



Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden today announced the indictments of two New Castle County men for the September, 2013 shooting deaths of a couple at the Paladin Club apartments.

“I want to recognize my staff and the New Castle County Police Department for their dogged pursuit of evidence in this very complex and time-consuming investigation,” Biden said. “Their extremely hard work and perseverance over the past year led to multiple arrests and today’s indictments. Even as we proceed with these prosecutions, I remind the public that the investigation into these senseless killings remains active and ongoing.”

Earlier today, Biden’s office secured murder indictments from the New Castle County Grand Jury against 31 year-old Christopher Rivers and 23 year-old Dominique Benson, who were each charged earlier this month with the early morning September, 22 2013 shooting that killed Joseph Connell and his wife Olga Connell, both 39 years of age, outside their residence.

Rivers has been indicted on:
• Two counts of First Degree Murder
• Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• One count of Conspiracy 1st Degree
• One Count of Criminal Solicitation 1st Degree

Benson has been indicted on:
• Two counts of First Degree Murder
• Two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• One count of Conspiracy 1st Degree

Rivers has been held without bail since his September 3 arrest. Benson has been held without bail since his September 5 arrest.

New Castle County Police Chief, Colonel Elmer Setting said today: “The collaborative effort brought forth by our Criminal Investigations Unit and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office displays their hard work and dedication in bringing those responsible to justice. This is another example that these cases are never forgotten and the County Police remain relentless in pursuing those who commit these crimes. With each arrest, we hope that the family, friends, loved ones and communities impacted by these senseless acts can begin to have some closure.”

The Delaware Department of Justice reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

# # #

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.