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The Wilmington Police Department joins the Delaware Department of Justice in announcing the following related to a guilty plea reached in connection with a 2017 homicide:
 
A Queens, NY man has pleaded guilty to a Wilmington homicide. In September 2017, Wilmington Police responded to a shooting and found Allen Melton of Wilmington suffering from gunshots to his torso and legs. Multiple witnesses reported that Sandy Lashley, 31, and a female accomplice, Latesha Favors of Wilmington, started an altercation with Melton’s girlfriend on Cedar Street and that when Melton attempted to break up the altercation, Lashley shot him multiple times and fled with Favors. Melton was later pronounced dead at Christiana Hospital. Lashley pleaded guilty to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and faces sentencing by a Superior Court judge in July. Favors is still wanted by police for her role in the initial physical altercation with Melton’s girlfriend. Deputy Attorneys General Cari Chapman and Anna Currier secured Lashley’s plea with assistance from paralegals Jaime Prater and Julie Caputo, Special Investigator Cliff Dempsey, social worker Kristen Fluharty-Emory, and Wilmington Police Detective Tom Curley.
 
The case was assigned to Sgt. Thomas Curley of the Criminal Investigations Division. Through the course of his investigation, Lashley was developed as a suspect.
 
Lt. Gary Tabor of the Criminal Investigations Division applauded the efforts that led to the arrest in this case, and now a guilty plea.
 
“The prompt investigative efforts in this case, along with the assistance of patrol and other WPD specialized units, resulted in the apprehension of a dangerous actor,” said Lt. Tabor.