Hakeem Montes
Media, PA – Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced charges today against Hakeem Montes, 18, of Chester, in connection with the August 7, 2021, murder of Samad Montgomery, 19. The victim’s body was found in the 1200 block of Clover Lane in Chester. The defendant has been charged with criminal homicide, murder of the first, second, and third degree, as well as conspiracy and related firearms charges. Two additional individuals have been charged in connection with Montgomery’s murder. Kahsir Bennett, 18, is in custody, and Marlon Cooper, 19, is still being sought.
“We all know that illegal guns – whether ghost guns, unregistered guns, or guns owned by ineligible person – are often used in the commission of crime, and are the root cause of much of the gun violence that plagues us as a society. However, as this case makes clear, the transactions through such illegal guns are transferred are themselves the cause of much misery and death. In the present case, four teenagers were engaged in arranging a gun transaction. One lost his life, and the other three will spend their lives paying for their actions,” said District Attorney Stollsteimer. “It is a tragedy for the families, and for us as a society, that the flow of illegal firearms continues in our communities,” said Stollsteimer.
On the morning of August 7, 2021 at approximately 5:00 am Chester City police officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of Clover Lane in Chester City. The victim, Samad Montgomery, was discovered lying on his back in the street, unresponsive and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics from Crozer-Chester Medical Center. The crime scene was identified as a walkway between 1208 and 1210 Clover Lane, and multiple fired cartridge casings were recovered. An abandoned iPhone XR was also located in the area where the cartridge casings were recovered. While at the crime scene, Officer Youseff of the Chester Police Department observed two males attempt to enter the crime scene that had been roped off by law enforcement personnel. Officer Youseff positively identified the two males in a photo array as Kahsir Bennett and Marlon Cooper.
An extensive analysis of cell phone data from the recovered iPhone XR was conducted, which revealed multiple calls and texts regarding the sale of firearms. In addition, the iPhone was used to contact the decedent five times in the half hour prior to his murder. A fingerprint analysis was performed on the recovered iPhone and the recovered prints were identified as belonging to Marlon Cooper. An audio message sent by the iPhone was positively identified as having been sent by Kahsir Bennett. In addition, investigators were able to determine that the same phone was used by the defendant under a different number, and that the defendant was a participant in the discussions involving the purchase of a firearm. The defendant’s Instagram account was also accessed, and provided further corroboration of his involvement with the murder.
“I want to commend the work of Criminal Investigation Division Detective Dave Tyler and Chester Police Detective Rhaheem Blanden for their work in work in bringing today’s charges, and Chester Police Officers Walls and Litvinenko for their assistance in apprehending the defendant,” said Stollsteimer. “I also want to thank Deputy District Attorney Matt Krouse for his invaluable assistance in ensuring that all three of these defendants are held to account for their actions.”
CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS AND UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
The District Attorney and the Criminal Investigations Division remind anyone in Delaware County who observes suspicious activity to call 911 immediately and provide the most specific and accurate details possible to assist law enforcement agencies investigating the call for service.
For more information contact Margie McAboy, Public Information Officer, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, 610-579-0429.