Delaware News

STK gang members sentenced to prison for crime spree, including murder of Brandon Wingo

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Friday, January 31, 2020



Two members of the Shoot To Kill (STK) gang, who were responsible for multiple armed robberies and three separate shootings—including the broad daylight murder of 15-year-old Brandon Wingo—have been sentenced by a Superior Court Judge.

Diamonte Taylor, 22, of Wilmington, was sentenced life in prison plus 11 years after a Superior Court jury convicted him in April 2018 of Murder 1st Degree, Assault 1st Degree, 2 counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree, 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, 2 counts of Aggravated Menacing and Illegal Gang Participation.

Co-defendant Zaahir Smith, 22, of Newark was sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty in March to Robbery 1st Degree, Attempted Robbery 1st Degree, Assault 1st Degree, Conspiracy 1st Degree, Gang Participation and 2 counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony.

Taylor and Smith were indicted as STK members who engaged in a series of violent gang-related firearm violence, including Wingo’s murder, during the month of May 2016. Prior to  Wingo’s murder, Smith and Taylor robbed two men at gunpoint after setting them up in Newark. Several days later, Smith shot a man during a robbery attempt in the 1600 block of Thatcher Street in Wilmington.

Deputy Attorneys General Mark Denney, Matt Frawley, and Monil Amin prosecuted the cases with assistance from Paralegal Stacey Coupe and Social Workers Courtney Cochran and Crystal Pitts. Det. Mackenzie Kirlin of the Wilmington Police Department and Det. Hector Garcia of the New Castle County Police Department led the investigation against Taylor and Smith.

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STK gang members sentenced to prison for crime spree, including murder of Brandon Wingo

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Friday, January 31, 2020



Two members of the Shoot To Kill (STK) gang, who were responsible for multiple armed robberies and three separate shootings—including the broad daylight murder of 15-year-old Brandon Wingo—have been sentenced by a Superior Court Judge.

Diamonte Taylor, 22, of Wilmington, was sentenced life in prison plus 11 years after a Superior Court jury convicted him in April 2018 of Murder 1st Degree, Assault 1st Degree, 2 counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree, 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, 2 counts of Aggravated Menacing and Illegal Gang Participation.

Co-defendant Zaahir Smith, 22, of Newark was sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty in March to Robbery 1st Degree, Attempted Robbery 1st Degree, Assault 1st Degree, Conspiracy 1st Degree, Gang Participation and 2 counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony.

Taylor and Smith were indicted as STK members who engaged in a series of violent gang-related firearm violence, including Wingo’s murder, during the month of May 2016. Prior to  Wingo’s murder, Smith and Taylor robbed two men at gunpoint after setting them up in Newark. Several days later, Smith shot a man during a robbery attempt in the 1600 block of Thatcher Street in Wilmington.

Deputy Attorneys General Mark Denney, Matt Frawley, and Monil Amin prosecuted the cases with assistance from Paralegal Stacey Coupe and Social Workers Courtney Cochran and Crystal Pitts. Det. Mackenzie Kirlin of the Wilmington Police Department and Det. Hector Garcia of the New Castle County Police Department led the investigation against Taylor and Smith.

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.