DELMAR, Del. and Md. —Friday marks four years since the brutal beating that would take the life of Corporal Keith Heacook, a veteran officer with the Delmar Police Department.
On April 25, 2021, Heacook responded to a call for help in the Yorkshire Estates neighborhood. Authorities say Randon Wilkerson attacked him inside a home, brutally beating Heacook. Wilkerson also assaulted a married couple who lived across the street, Steve and Judy Franklin. Heacook was rushed to a hospital, but died three days later from his injuries at the age of 54.
On Friday, residents and local officials marked the solemn anniversary by remembering Heacook’s service and the legacy he left behind.
Standing outside the home where the attack occurred, Doug Marshall reflected on the life Heacook was building for his family.
"What's hard to comprehend is that that was Keith's last Sunday shift," Marshall said. "He was leaving here, like many officers had at the time, to take a job at Salisbury University, so he could put his son Matthew through school."
Throughout Delmar, signs of remembrance are everywhere. A park bench, a mural, a permanent monument, and even a truck parked along State Line Road bearing a “Back the Blue” flag and Heacook’s badge number serve as daily reminders of his sacrifice.
Delmar, Delaware Mayor Tom Bauer said the memory of that day is still vivid for everyone in town.
"Everybody remembers where they were four years ago when they got the news, when it was on Facebook, when it was on the news with you, when the Chief was out front talking," Bauer said. "Nobody's going to forget what happened."
Later Friday evening, community members gathered at Kylan Barn for the third annual "HeacookFest," an event created to celebrate Heacook’s life beyond his badge. Caroline Matthews, one of the event’s organizers, said it’s important to remember who he was as a person.
"Giving people the opportunity to come together to remember who he was as a person and not just as a policeman is very special," Matthews said.
Heacook served 22 years with the Delmar Police Department. In the wake of his death, Maryland and Delaware communities rallied together, honoring his bravery and calling for more support for the small-town police department.
Wilkerson was later found guilty of multiple charges, including first-degree murder. In 2023, he was sentenced to two life terms plus an additional 212 years behind bars.