WEST CHESTER, PA — In a joint announcement today, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Coatesville City Police Department revealed the arrest of six individuals linked to the 2023 homicide of Dametirus McClain-Jackson in Coatesville.
The arrested individuals, Richard Rochester-Cottle, Victor Lara-Ortiz, Garry White, Zaire Harley, Markel Jones, and a juvenile identified by the initials Q.L., are currently in custody awaiting trial. They face charges of First Degree Murder, Conspiracy, and other related offenses connected to the death of McClain-Jackson. All defendants are being held without bail due to the severity of the charges.
According to the criminal complaints, on August 23, 2023, McClain-Jackson was fatally shot during an alleged attempt by him and the co-defendants to kill a rival. Responding to a dispatch about a shooting near Madison Street and Lime Street in Coatesville, officers found McClain-Jackson, aged 20, with a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead at Paoli Hospital.
Investigations revealed that on the day of the incident, McClain-Jackson and the defendants were reportedly driving around Coatesville in a stolen vehicle. They were purportedly searching for a rival and his friends in response to an Instagram post about a previous shooting. The group, armed with firearms, arrived at Community Lane, where they began shooting upon spotting their rivals. McClain-Jackson was shot in the ensuing chaos and declared that he had been injured as they returned to the vehicle.
District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe highlighted the collaborative efforts between the Coatesville Police Department, County Detectives, and the District Attorney’s Office. He pledged continued dedication to solving violent crime cases and protecting the community.
The cases will be presided over by Judge Alita A. Rovito of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. The investigation was a joint effort between Chester County Detectives and the Coatesville Police Department, with assistance from multiple state and local agencies. Chief of Investigations Andrea Cardamone is the assigned prosecutor.
As this is an ongoing investigation, additional details may emerge, and information is subject to change. It is crucial to remember that an arrest or charge does not equate to guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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