Delaware State Police have four suspects involved in a crime spree that occurred in the Wilmington area on April 14, 2023. The suspects, identified as David Hinson, Michael Caldwell, Mahkiya Powell, and Tonnaire McNair-Matthews, were involved in a series of carjackings, collisions, and violent acts according to authorities.
The crime spree began when a 911 caller reported being tailgated and “brake-checked” by a black Jeep Grand Cherokee on Marsh Road and Naamans Road in Wilmington. The situation escalated when the front passenger of the Jeep approached the victim’s vehicle and fled into the woods. Thirteen minutes later, another victim was rear-ended by the same black Jeep, and the driver fled the scene after briefly looking at the victim.
Further incidents involving the black Jeep were reported, including tailgating and another collision. The situation took a horrifying turn when a victim was rear-ended by the black Jeep on Creek Road, and a suspect held her at gunpoint. The suspect sexually assaulted the victim, forced her into her own vehicle, and drove her to a location in Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania. The suspect left the victim on the roadside and fled in her vehicle.
Law enforcement agencies were quick to respond to the escalating situation. An officer from the Wilmington Police Department noticed the black Jeep parked next to a maroon Nissan Pathfinder at a gas station in Wilmington, where it appeared the suspects were changing vehicles. The officer attempted to stop the Jeep, but the suspects fled at a high rate of speed. A pursuit ensued, crossing state lines into Pennsylvania.
The pursuit eventually led to a collision involving the stolen maroon Nissan Pathfinder on I-95. The driver and the passenger fled from the vehicle but were apprehended shortly afterward. Officials said the driver, identified as David Hinson, and the passenger, Michael Caldwell, were charged and taken into custody. During a search of the area, law enforcement recovered a firearm.
The investigation into the crime spree continued, leading to the identification and subsequent apprehension of the two remaining suspects, Mahkiya Powell and Tonnaire McNair-Matthews, both residents of Wilmington. Powell was taken into custody on April 17, 2023, by the Delaware State Police, while McNair-Matthews was apprehended later that day with the assistance of the FBI, US Marshals, and Maryland State Police.
The four suspects were charged with a range of offenses based on their involvement in the crime spree. David Hinson faced charges including receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, and unlawful use of a payment card. Michael Caldwell was charged with aggravated menacing, possession of a firearm during a felony, and resisting arrest. Mahkiya Powell faced charges of tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy, and theft. Tonnaire McNair-Matthews faced a list of charges, including rape, kidnapping, robbery, and possession of a firearm during a felony.
The Delaware Department of Justice has secured indictments against all four defendants, ensuring they will face trial for their alleged crimes. The charges against the defendants include attempted robbery, unlawful use of a payment card, conspiracy, rape, kidnapping, and possession of firearms during the commission of a felony.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings expressed her gratitude to the prosecutors, Delaware State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, FBI, US Marshals, and Maryland State Police for their collaborative efforts in apprehending and holding the suspects accountable for their actions. She emphasized the significant harm and violence inflicted by the suspects and the importance of ensuring justice for the victims and the community.