A Wilmington man pleads guilty to murder and other charges in a former cold-case shooting death.
29-year-old Dashawn Daley faces sentencing in June. He was arrested last August following an investigation into the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Hakeem Smalls in September 2019.
Daley was already behind bars for unrelated charges at the time of his arrest. A Violation of Probation charge that was pending against him was also resolved in the plea agreement.
Prosecutors said Daley robbed Smalls at gunpoint in the area of 25th Street and Monroe Street, stole a pistol that Smalls had legally purchased and shot him twice before he fled the scene.
“I am grateful for the hard work of our team and the Wilmington Police Department,” Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said. “Thanks to their dedication and persistence, justice is being served at long last. May it bring some peace to the victim’s family and loved ones.”
“This guilty plea represents the culmination of our efforts to deliver justice for the victim’s family,” Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. “I appreciate both the original investigating detective as well as members of our Cold Case Unit, who assisted with bringing our investigation to a close and ensuring the suspect will be held accountable.”
