Delaware police officer beaten to death while responding to an attack on elderly couple

On Sunday morning, Delmar Police Officer Corporal Keith Heacook responded to a call to help after his alleged assailant assaulted an elderly couple. When the officer arrived on scene he was physically overcome and repeatedly kicked in the head while on the ground unconscious, police stated, reports the Salisbury Daily Times.

Other police officers discovered Heacook’s unconscious body and rushed him to a trauma center where he was forced onto a ventilator and had a shunt inserted into his skull. He died of his injuries on Wednesday. Police say he suffered severe head trauma. He was declared clinically deceased although he remained on life support.

Officer Heacook was an organ donor, and his organs will be donated.

“I need you to know that even with his sacrifice, he’s still a hero for someone,” said Delmar Police Chief Ivan Barkley.

His alleged killer, Randon Wilkerson, has been charged with attempted murder in the first degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, burglary, assault in the third degree, and terroristic threatening. The charges against Wilkerson are expected to be upgraded to include murder following Heacook’s death.

A press release from the police also detailed Wilkerson’s attack on the elderly couple who called the police:

“Wilkerson knocked on the back door of a residence and was met by the 73-year-old male victim. The male victim was then assaulted as Wilkerson entered the house and then struck numerous times with a glass object. Wilkerson then repeatedly assaulted a 76-year-old female with the same object before fleeing the house.”

Speaking to the press, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings vowed to hold Heacook’s killer accountable for his crimes.

“He will be held accountable for his heinous crimes against Cpl. Heacook, against the elderly couple he viciously attacked, and against Delmar and our entire state,” said Jennings.

“We are here to mourn the loss of a man who devoted his entire career to the selfless cause of serving the rest of us,” the AG continued. “And we are here to acknowledge law enforcement across this state who willingly face danger each and every day so that all of the rest of us don’t have to.”

“Tonight we wrap our arms around a community and a family and hold them in support and prayer,” she said.