Two men have been charged and a third – who police said should be considered armed and dangerous – remains on the loose in connection with an assault-turned-homicide in Claymont last month.
Police charged 20-year-old Justin Locke and 22-year-old Jeffrey Labarge in connection with the death of a 56-year-old man. Delaware State Police are not identifying the victim “at this time” and did not elaborate further as to why they made that decision.
Labarge’s neighbor, 22-year-old Tyler Simpson, remains on the lam. Police are asking for the public’s help in locating him.
According to police, the investigation began just before 11:45 p.m. on July 23 when troopers were called to Claymont Auto Repair on Philadelphia Pike for reports of a “felony level assault.”
Because of the “suspicious circumstances of the initial investigation” – police did not elaborate on what those circumstances were – the homicide unit was called in to help.
As detectives investigated, they determined Locke, Labarge and Simpson attacked the 56-year-old as he was walking near a parking lot along Philadelphia Pike. After the assault, the men “left the victim lying motionless on the ground of the parking lot, where the victim remained for over 25 minutes,” police said.
An SUV then pulled into the parking lot and the men were seen loading the victim into the back of the car, according to police. A passing driver saw this and called 911.
Delaware State Police has remained cryptic about when detectives found the victim and how detectives identified the suspects, but said investigators received “further information” that helped them identify “potential areas to search in the Claymont area for the unidentified assault victim.”
Detectives ultimately found the man on the property of EVRAZ Claymont Steel, which is located next to Claymont’s Knollwood community and formerly known as CitiSteel USA. Public records show Labarge and Simpson currently live on the same street in Knollwood, and Locke also lived on the street at one point.
BACKGROUND:Shootings, blight and hopelessness: What happened to this once-vibrant Claymont community?
Police said a Delaware medical examiner determined the victim’s death was a homicide.
On Thursday, both Locke and Labarge were arrested and charged with first degree assault, kidnapping and conspiracy. They are being held in prison on $1 million cash bond. Police said they will be charged with first degree murder, though did not say when.
Simpson is still on the lam, charged with first degree murder as well as the other three charges Locke and Labarge face. Police, who asked for the public’s help in locating and identifying Simpon, asked anyone who sees him to call 911.
Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_
