On Tuesday the Department of Justice announced that Randon Wilkerson has been indicted for the murder of Cpl. Keith Heacook of the Delmar Police Department.
Wilkerson will face two counts of Murder First Degree, two counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, and 11 other crimes including multiple counts of Assault First Degree, following a brutal assault on Cpl. Heacook and an elderly couple. Attorney General Jennings pledged to upgrade his charges to include murder after Cpl. Heacook’s succumbed to his injuries three days after the assault.
“The Heacook family, the Town of Delmar, and the law enforcement community have been living through a nightmare since April 25th,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Keith Heacook was murdered in service to his community, responding to the call of a person who needed help. We can never truly fill the void that he left behind; but we must honor his sacrifice by seeking justice. I’m grateful to the grand jurors who helped ensure that Cpl. Heacook’s killer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
If convicted, Wilkerson could face a life sentence.
Original Story
Delmar, DE – The Delaware State Police have arrested 30-year-old Randon D. Wilkerson in connection with the assaults that occurred in Yorkshire Estates, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier.
Fournier said at approximately 5:12 am on Sunday, April 25, 2021, Delmar Police Department was dispatched to the 11000 block of Buckingham Drive in the Yorkshire Estates Community for a report of a fight in progress. The 9-1-1 caller reported one of the occupants, who was later identified as Randon Wilkerson, was being disorderly, fighting with other residents of the house, and destroying items inside the residence. Moments later, a separate 9-1-1 call was received from a neighbor across the street from the original caller, stating he and his wife had been assaulted by a male subject. The caller then stated the assailant was no longer at his house.
Corporal Keith Heacook responded to the house of the initial call and was met with a physical confrontation with Wilkerson inside the home, according to Fournier.
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The dispatchers began checking on Cpl. Heacook and received no response. At that time, additional officers were dispatched and a Wicomico County Sheriffs Office Deputy and a Delaware State Trooper arrived on scene to find Cpl. Heacook unconscious inside the residence. Officers from Laurel Police Department arrived on scene, and upon pulling Cpl. Heacook from the house, began First Aid until Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived. Cpl. Heacook was transported to TidalHeath in Salisbury and then given a police escort to Shock Trauma in Baltimore with significant head injuries.
The investigation into the separate, but related assault, which involved an elderly couple across the street revealed, Wilkerson knocked on the back door of residence and was met by the 73-year-old male victim. The male victim was then assaulted as Wilkerson entered the house and then struck numerous times with a glass object. Wilkerson then repeatedly assaulted a 76-year-old female with the same object before fleeing the house. Both of those victims sustained significant injury and were transported by ambulance to area hospitals. The female victim was later transported to Shock Trauma in Baltimore.
Randon Wilkerson was observed by the allied police agencies walking on the rear of the property of the first 9-1-1 call and was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to Troop 5 in Bridgeville and charged with the following:
Attempted Murder 1st
Assault 1st (2 counts)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (2 counts)
Burglary 1st
Assault 3rd
Terroristic Threatening
Randon Wilkerson was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $451,000.00 cash bond.
Sources in law enforcement tell FSU that the other five people were taken into custody during the investigation may have also been assaulted by Wilkerson. Police have not confirmed those reports.
The Delaware State Police is continuing the investigation into both events and is working collaboratively with the Delmar Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriffs Office, Maryland State Police, and all other involved agencies.
“Corporal Keith Heacook is a 22 year veteran and has been employed with our department since 1998.” said Chief Ivan Barkley of Delmar Police Department, “He is a husband, son, brother, and father. Keith is fighting for his life right now and he needs your prayers along with the elderly couple who were also injured. Members from the Delmar Police appreciate the outpouring of community support as we continue to move forward. We appreciate the support from the Delaware State Police, Wicomico County Sheriffs Office, Maryland State Police, and all other agencies who responded and are assisting with this investigation.”
Original Report
The Delaware State Police is investigating an incident that left several people seriously injured, including a Delmar Police officer.
At a press conference Sunday morning Delaware State Police Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier said at approximately 5:12 this morning a Delmar Police Officer, was dispatched to the 11000 Block of Buckingham Drive Delmar, Delaware for a reported fight.
The officer, a 22 year veteran of the department, responded to the incident alone. When the officer failed to answer radio calls additional officers from DSP, Maryland and other surrounding agencies converged on the area. When officers arrived they found Cpl. Keith Heacook critically injured inside the home said Fournier.
Fournier said it was unclear what occurred during the incident. He said police know that the officer, identified as Cpl. Keith Heacook, was involved in a physical altercation inside the home. Sources tell First State Update that Cpl. Heacook suffered blunt force injuries to his head, this was confirmed by Fournier at Sunday’s press conference.
Heacook, suffering multiple head and chest injures according to sources, was first transported to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, Maryland. He was later transported by ground to Baltimore’s Shock Trauma, about 115 miles away.
Fournier said that an elderly couple in a nearby home was also seriously injured and we’re transported to Shock Trauma as well.
Sources also tell First State Update that the home Heacook responded to was a home know to law enforcement. Six subjects have reportedly been detained.
Breaking Report
Breaking: State Police and surrounding agencies responded to a home in the 11000 block of Buckingham Drive in Delmar, Delaware early this morning for what is described as a police action. At least two ambulances have been requested to the scene.
The reader that sent in the photos says that the police vehicles in the photo are staged on Old Stage Road outside the Yorkshire Estates Development – Additional officers are inside the neighborhood as well.
Delaware State Police released a statement saying that they are currently conducting a criminal investigation in the Yorkshire Estates Community. As a result, there is an increased police presence in the area. This investigation is in the early stages and is active and ongoing. Additional information will be released once it becomes available.
This is a developing story