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Man charged with 1st-degree murder in death of Delmar police officer

Delaware State Police
Cpl. Keith Heacook died after he was allegedly assaulted while responding to a call in April

The state has upgraded charges against a man accused of killing a Delmar police officer. 

Then 30-year-old Randon Wilkerson was originally charged with a number of crimes including attempted murder after he allegedly assaulted an elderly couple and Cpl. Keith Heacook in April. 

Heacook was hospitalized with severe head injuries and died days later. 

The Delaware Department of Justice announced Tuesday it secured an indictment against Wilkerson for first-degree murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, and 11 other crimes including first-degree assault.

If convicted, he could face a life sentence. 

“Keith Heacook was murdered in service to his community, responding to the call of a person who needed help," said state Attorney General Kathy Jennings in a statement Tuesday. "We can never truly fill the void that he left behind; but we must honor his sacrifice by seeking justice."

Jennings expressed thanks to the grand jurors for helping the state prosecute Heacook’s “killer … to the fullest extent of the law.”

 

Sophia Schmidt is a Delaware native. She comes to Delaware Public Media from NPR’s Weekend Edition in Washington, DC, where she produced arts, politics, science and culture interviews. She previously wrote about education and environment for The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, MA. She graduated from Williams College, where she studied environmental policy and biology, and covered environmental events and local renewable energy for the college paper.
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