Delaware News


Four Indicted On Charges Relating To Murder of 15-Year-Old Brandon Wingo in Wilmington

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, June 23, 2016



Three men were indicted Monday for the murder of 15-year-old Brandon Wingo as he walked home from school on May 19, and a woman was indicted on related charges as well.

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.

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. In addition to charges related to Brandon Wingo’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.

“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. “These indictments are the result of hard work by prosecutors like Deputy Attorneys General Mark Denney, Colleen Norris, Marc Petrucci and Cindy Hurlock, with support from DOJ staff Diane Madric and Sandra Colicchio, all in the New Castle County Criminal Division led by State Prosecutor Kathy Jennings and County Prosecutor Joe Grubb. The case was investigated with intrepid work by Thomas Curley, Mackenzie Kirlin, Peter Leccia and William Ball of Wilmington PD, along with Hector Garcia of New Castle County Police, and task forces from both the U.S. Marshal’s Office and federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms bureau.”

“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.”

At the time of the indictment, all three men were in custody on charges related to other incidents. Pierce was arrested this morning.

Bail hearings for Harris-Dickerson, Smith, and Taylor were held Wednesday June 22nd. 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 indicted charges for each of the defendants are as follows:

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

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Four Indicted On Charges Relating To Murder of 15-Year-Old Brandon Wingo in Wilmington

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, June 23, 2016



Three men were indicted Monday for the murder of 15-year-old Brandon Wingo as he walked home from school on May 19, and a woman was indicted on related charges as well.

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.

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. In addition to charges related to Brandon Wingo’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.

“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. “These indictments are the result of hard work by prosecutors like Deputy Attorneys General Mark Denney, Colleen Norris, Marc Petrucci and Cindy Hurlock, with support from DOJ staff Diane Madric and Sandra Colicchio, all in the New Castle County Criminal Division led by State Prosecutor Kathy Jennings and County Prosecutor Joe Grubb. The case was investigated with intrepid work by Thomas Curley, Mackenzie Kirlin, Peter Leccia and William Ball of Wilmington PD, along with Hector Garcia of New Castle County Police, and task forces from both the U.S. Marshal’s Office and federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms bureau.”

“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.”

At the time of the indictment, all three men were in custody on charges related to other incidents. Pierce was arrested this morning.

Bail hearings for Harris-Dickerson, Smith, and Taylor were held Wednesday June 22nd. 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 indicted charges for each of the defendants are as follows:

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

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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.