Wilmington Police have arrested and charged a man in connection with a May 2017 homicide incident.
On May 5, 2017, at approximately 7:56 p.m., a police officer on proactive patrol heard gunshots and located a shooting victim at 2nd and Van Buren Streets. The gunshot victim, who was later identified as 23-year-old Joquon Coverdale, was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Detective Mary Quinn of the Criminal Investigations Division was assigned to the case. Through her investigation, she developed 25-year-old Naheem Gosa as a suspect, according to police.
On July 22, Detective Quinn presented the case to a New Castle County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment for the following charges:
Murder (First Degree)
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony – Three Counts
Reckless Endangering (First Degree) – Two Counts
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
On July 24, members of the Street Crimes Unit located Gosa in the 300 block of East 23rd Street, and took him into custody without incident.
He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 20 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $1,210,000 cash-only bail.
“The indictment and arrest in this investigation is representative of the relentless efforts of our detectives to bring justice in each of their cases,” said Sgt. Thomas Curley of the Criminal Investigations Division.
Update:
Wilmington – The victim from the 2nd and N. Vanburen Street homicide investigation which occurred on May 05, 2017 has been identified as Joquon Coverdale, 39, of Wilmington.
Original Story
Wilmington – On May 5, 2017 at just before 8 p.m., a Wilmington Police K-9 officer was on proactive patrol in the area of Lancaster Avenue and Vanburen Street when he notified 911 dispatchers as well as assisting police units of several gunshots being fired in the immediate area.
The K-9 officer drove towards the gunshots and located a large crowd at 2nd & Vanburen Street. As the officer exited his police vehicle to investigate, he immediately located a male victim down in the street suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to his head and torso areas.
The victim, identified as a 39-year-old male was treated on scene by New Castle County Paramedics and transported to the Christiana Hospital where he later died.
The homicide investigation remains active and ongoing at this hour. Anyone with information relative to this investigation is asked to call Detective Mary Quinn at 302-576-3620. Information may also be left on the Delaware Crime Stoppers TipLine at 1-800-TIP-3333 where information received may lead to a reward. Citizens can also TEXT a tip to NIXLE by texting 888777.