Delaware News


New Charges Filed, Guilty Plea Secured in NorthPak Case 

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Friday, January 13, 2023


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The Department of Justice has secured an additional 28 charges against three defendants, and a guilty plea from a fourth, in its case against the Wilmington-area gang NorthPak.

“Wilmington, and Delaware as a whole, are making strides in the fight against gun violence, and aggressively taking on violent gangs is an indispensable part of that strategy,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The ongoing investigation by Wilmington Police Department and the DOJ links NorthPak to a staggering amount of gun violence and terror in our communities. Few criminal enterprises have done more to hurt Wilmington and the facts of this investigation underscore the disproportionate harm that a small criminal element can inflict upon our communities — and how quickly that harm is multiplied by the addition of a gun. My thanks go to the detectives and prosecutors who have built this case for the better part of two years and who are already making our city a safer place to live.”

“Even after a number of significant indictments against members of this group, our investigators continue to work on this case to bring additional charges as they bring closure to the families of victims,” said Chief Wilfredo Campos. “I am proud of our detectives, and appreciative of our partners who have worked with us to hold these offenders accountable for driving violence in Wilmington.”

The indictment charges defendants Elijah Coffield, J’Shawn Edwards, and Markel Richards with a total of 28 new offenses, including Murder 1st Degree charges against Edwards and Richards for the September 2020 killing of Shareef Hamilton, and against Edwards for the attempted murder of Sakai Clark the same month. The list of charges is as follows:

Eljiah Coffield:

  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
  • Reckless Endangering 1st Degree class
  • Conspiracy 2nd Degree

 

J’Shawn Edwards:

  • Murder 1st Degree
  • Attempted Murder 1st Degree
  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (five counts)
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (two counts)
  • Conspiracy 1st Degree (two counts)
  • Reckless Endangering 1st Degree (two counts)
  • Conspiracy 2nd Degree
  • Illegal Gang Participation

 

Markel Richards:

  • Murder 1st Degree
  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (four counts)
  • Conspiracy 1st Degree
  • Reckless Endangering 1st Degree (two counts)
  • Conspiracy 2nd Degree
  • Illegal Gang Participation

Defendant Isaiah Lecompte has also pleaded guilty to Illegal Gang Participation, Assault 1st Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Conspiracy 2nd Degree and will serve a total of 5 years in prison followed by 2 years of probation. Lecompte’s sentence includes a total of 30 suspended years in prison which the Court may impose should he violate the law during his probation.

Deputy Attorneys General Erika Flaschner, Joe Grubb, and A.J. Hill have led this case for the DOJ, with support from DOJ Criminal Intelligence Analyst/Investigator Dan Masi, DOJ Paralegals Julia Bacon and Sarah Molaski, and DOJ Social Workers Crystal Pitts and Donna Lindsey. Detective Justin Kane and Detective Sergeant Tom Curley of the Wilmington Police Department are leading the ongoing investigation into NorthPak.

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New Charges Filed, Guilty Plea Secured in NorthPak Case 

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Friday, January 13, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

The Department of Justice has secured an additional 28 charges against three defendants, and a guilty plea from a fourth, in its case against the Wilmington-area gang NorthPak.

“Wilmington, and Delaware as a whole, are making strides in the fight against gun violence, and aggressively taking on violent gangs is an indispensable part of that strategy,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The ongoing investigation by Wilmington Police Department and the DOJ links NorthPak to a staggering amount of gun violence and terror in our communities. Few criminal enterprises have done more to hurt Wilmington and the facts of this investigation underscore the disproportionate harm that a small criminal element can inflict upon our communities — and how quickly that harm is multiplied by the addition of a gun. My thanks go to the detectives and prosecutors who have built this case for the better part of two years and who are already making our city a safer place to live.”

“Even after a number of significant indictments against members of this group, our investigators continue to work on this case to bring additional charges as they bring closure to the families of victims,” said Chief Wilfredo Campos. “I am proud of our detectives, and appreciative of our partners who have worked with us to hold these offenders accountable for driving violence in Wilmington.”

The indictment charges defendants Elijah Coffield, J’Shawn Edwards, and Markel Richards with a total of 28 new offenses, including Murder 1st Degree charges against Edwards and Richards for the September 2020 killing of Shareef Hamilton, and against Edwards for the attempted murder of Sakai Clark the same month. The list of charges is as follows:

Eljiah Coffield:

  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
  • Reckless Endangering 1st Degree class
  • Conspiracy 2nd Degree

 

J’Shawn Edwards:

  • Murder 1st Degree
  • Attempted Murder 1st Degree
  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (five counts)
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (two counts)
  • Conspiracy 1st Degree (two counts)
  • Reckless Endangering 1st Degree (two counts)
  • Conspiracy 2nd Degree
  • Illegal Gang Participation

 

Markel Richards:

  • Murder 1st Degree
  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (four counts)
  • Conspiracy 1st Degree
  • Reckless Endangering 1st Degree (two counts)
  • Conspiracy 2nd Degree
  • Illegal Gang Participation

Defendant Isaiah Lecompte has also pleaded guilty to Illegal Gang Participation, Assault 1st Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Conspiracy 2nd Degree and will serve a total of 5 years in prison followed by 2 years of probation. Lecompte’s sentence includes a total of 30 suspended years in prison which the Court may impose should he violate the law during his probation.

Deputy Attorneys General Erika Flaschner, Joe Grubb, and A.J. Hill have led this case for the DOJ, with support from DOJ Criminal Intelligence Analyst/Investigator Dan Masi, DOJ Paralegals Julia Bacon and Sarah Molaski, and DOJ Social Workers Crystal Pitts and Donna Lindsey. Detective Justin Kane and Detective Sergeant Tom Curley of the Wilmington Police Department are leading the ongoing investigation into NorthPak.

image_printPrint


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.