Chester man arraigned in 2015 shooting death
MEDIA COURTHOUSE » A Chester man arrested in May for the 201+++++++++5 shooting death of 33-yearold Michael Collier was formally arraigned on murder and related charges Wednesday before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge James Bradley.
Vincent Clark, 27, of Clover Lane, was arrested two years to the day after police found Collier bleeding profusely from multiple gunshot wounds at Third and Engle streets. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police had long suspected Clark was the gunman, but only developed a witness who said Clark had confessed to the crime in March.
Collier’s family told police he was returning home the night of May 31 and asked them to open the door because he did not have a key on him, according to an affidavit of probable cause. When he pulled up outside the residence in a 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a man witnesses described as wearing a bucket hat and tan cargo shorts ran out of a nearby alley and fired several shots at Collier.
Four prior witnesses gave accounts of seeing a man known as “Vince” either nearby, carrying out the shooting or fleeing. One allegedly saw “Vince” with a handgun tucked into his waistband a few weeks prior and another said “Vince” had been hanging out in an alley near the scene for two days prior.
A fifth witness told police in March that he had been riding with Clark when the defendant told him, “I killed Sheets,” Collier’s street name. When asked why, Clark allegedly answered, “Because he killed Eshon.”
Eshon Rahmir Mills, 19, of Peoples Street, was found shot dead shot on the 1100 block of Pine Lane May 10, 2015. Chester police confirmed Collier was “a probable suspect” in Mills’ murder.
Clark was arraigned on charges of murder in the first and third degree, criminal homicide and firearms offenses. He is represented by defense attorney William Wismer. Assistant District Attorney Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill is prosecuting.
Clark stood mute at the hearing and Bradley entered a plea of “not guilty” on his behalf. A pretrial conference has been set for Dec. 19.