On Tuesday, the Delaware Attorney General’s Office announced that a Pennsylvania man has been formally charged with 41 felonies, including the murder of two people and the attempted murder, assault and / or theft of four other victims, between other offenses.

Prosecutors alleged that Keith Gibson, 39, engaged in a series of brutal crimes in Delaware, killing two victims and injuring four others over the course of about three weeks. Gibson is also a suspect in several Pennsylvania murders earlier this year.

“This indictment presents one of the most vicious and astounding criminal follies I have seen in my career,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “It is even more disturbing to think, based on what investigators have revealed in Pennsylvania, that this may be just the tip of the iceberg. We have assigned some of the most senior DOJ prosecutors to this case and will ensure that this man is brought to justice for the senseless carnage he has caused. In the meantime, my heart is with the victims, especially the families of Leslie Basilio and Ronald Wright. My thanks go to our law enforcement partners, including the much needed efforts of the Elsmere and Wilmington Police Services. “

“The charges in this indictment reflect the brutal nature of this individual’s crimes, as well as the significant risk he posed to public safety in our community and throughout our region,” said the police chief of Wilmington, Robert J. Tracy. “I am proud of the efforts of our officers who responded to his latest armed robbery, who were able to take him into custody and ensure that he is held accountable for his wave of senseless and ruthless crimes and evil that he has talked to so many individuals and families. “

“This indictment was obtained thanks to the tremendous efforts of all law enforcement partners to jointly investigate all multi-jurisdictional cases and ultimately bring a killer to justice,” said the police chief of Elsmere, Laura Giles. “We can only hope that this will bring some relief and closure to the families and loved ones of his victims.”

Gibson, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter and firearm possession while committing a felony, was released from prison on December 20, 2020 after a 13-year sentence. Gibson violated the terms of his probation and was briefly detained before being released again on April 27, 2021.

On May 15, 2021, Gibson reportedly shot dead Leslie Ruiz-Basilio, 28, in a robbery at a Metro PCS store on Kirkwood Highway in Elsmere and stole his vehicle. On June 5, Gibson allegedly shot dead Ronald Wright, 42, in a street robbery, and assaulted another victim.

Over the next three days, Gibson allegedly robbed and / or assaulted three other victims, including an attempted murder on one, as well as a host of gun and drug offenses. Out of respect for their privacy, the DOJ does not name living victims of crime. Gibson was arrested on June 8 in connection with the theft of a Wilmington Rite-Aid and is currently in custody awaiting trial.

Gibson’s indictment was entered by a New Castle County grand jury and obtained by Assistant Attorneys General John Downs, Matt Frawley and Sam Kenney with the support of senior paralegal Stacey Coupe and social workers Donna Lindsey and Marilyn Torres. The investigation was conducted by the Wilmington Police Department and the Elsmere Police Department, with support from law enforcement partners in the New Castle County Police Department, the Police Department Newport, New Castle City Police Department, Newark Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department. Department, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI and ATF, in addition to support from T-Mobile Asset Protection and the Ruiz-Basilio family.

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Delaware Department of Correction described Keith Gibson’s time in their system.

Officials said on Thursday that Keith Gibson was on level 3 probation with a 2010 conviction for manslaughter and possession of a firearm while commissioning a crime for which he served more than a decade from prison. Gibson is an active probationer.

According to the agency’s website, level 3 probation is as follows:

Intensive supervision consists of at least the equivalent of one (1) hour of supervision per day and at most fifty-six (56) hours of supervision per week. The minimum of one (1) hour of supervision per day is achieved through direct contact with the offender, collateral contact, verification of each offender’s activities (e.g. residence, employment, training and school) and performance with court-ordered treatment and community work. The emphasis is on supervision through increased contact with the community.

When convicted in 2010, Gibson was sentenced to serve 6 months in a level IV community correctional center. (Level IV – Work release centers, Home confinement (electronic monitoring), Residential drug treatment, Violation of probation centers) immediately after his prison sentence. He was released from prison to be held in Level IV Community Corrections in June 2020.

While at Level IV, a probation violation (VOP) was filed against him for fighting with other offenders. He was found guilty of this VOP and was sentenced to an additional 6 months in prison followed by 18 months probation.

He completed his prison term for this VOP and began his probationary period in December 2020. In February 2021, his probation officer filed a VOP against him for leaving the state of Delaware without permission and a capias (warrant stop) has been issued.

Gibson was sent back to Delaware and taken into DOC custody at the end of March. He was found guilty of the breach of probation at the end of April and sentenced to 31 days in prison (time served), followed by 18 months of probation.

Earlier this week, Wilmington police arrested and charged Gibson following an armed robbery, police said on Tuesday.

Officials said that on June 8 at around 8:20 a.m., police responded to the 800 block of West 4th Street in reference to an ongoing armed robbery. Response officers investigated the area and located Keith Gibson, 39, in the 800 block of West 5th Street.

Gibson was arrested without incident and was wearing a bulletproof vest and was in possession of a loaded firearm as well as ammunition, a knife and narcotics.

Gibson has been charged with the following offenses:
Flight (first degree)
Possession of a lethal weapon while committing a crime
Possession of a firearm while committing a crime
Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Prohibited Person – Four Charges
Conspiracy (Second Degree)
Wearing a bulletproof vest while committing a crime
Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver – Two Charges
Gibson was arraigned before Justice of the Peace 11 and held at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $ 305,000 cash-only bond.

Delaware law enforcement sources told First State Update that Gibson was a person of interest in the shooting death of Christine Lugo. Lugo is the manager of the Philadelphia Dunkin Donuts who was murdered in a robbery last weekend.

Gibson is also a person of interest in the murder of Leslie Ruiz-Basilio in the Elsmere cell phone store and the death of his mother in February. Police are also examining Gibson in several murders and at least one other robbery, sources say.