Two men responsible for the shooting death of their friend, 19-year-old Isaac Hatton, will serve 20 years in prison.
In September of 2018, Delaware State Police Homicide Detectives identified 26-year-old Jerry Reed of Georgetown and 21-year-old Traevon Dixon of Laurel, as being responsible for the execution of Hatton.
At the time officials said the investigation began at approximately 9:22 a.m., Wednesday, September 26, 2018, when troopers responded to the area of Portsville Road and Dogwood Lane, west of Laurel for a report of a man that was found lying on the shoreline of a local pond. Sussex County Paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced the man deceased at the scene, noting that he had likely died from an apparent gunshot wound.
Through their investigative, detectives were able to identify Reed and Dixon as suspects and took Dixon into custody the next day, Thursday, September 27, 2018. Dixon was initially charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited. He was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $10,000.00 secured bond. He was later charged with Murder First Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
Troopers were initially unable to locate Reed and issued warrants for his arrest. He would be charged with Murder First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited. He later turned himself in.
In late October 2019, prosecutors announced that Dixon, now 22, had pleaded guilty to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and would be sentenced after the trial of his co-defendant Jerry Reed.
With trial approaching, Reed, facing Murder First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy First Degree, and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and weapons charges in January.
With both men pleading to lesser charges sentencing hearings were set for this week. Earlier this week Dixon was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the shooting death of his friend. Reed was also sentenced to 20 years in prison for the killing of Hatton later in the week.