On October 1, 2016, Reginald Neal, a 56-year-old African American male, was found deceased in Pembroke Township, Illinois. He was one of three victims in a tragic incident that occurred at their residence located on the 4300 South block of 15500 East Road. Alongside Reginald Neal, his two sons, 24-year-old Dangelo Neal and 21-year-old Davante Hopkins, were also found dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The Kankakee County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of Illinois State Police Crime Scene Technicians, processed the crime scene and launched an investigation into the triple homicide.
The investigation into the murders of Reginald Neal and his sons was extensive and challenging, primarily because many individuals involved were not from the immediate area. This required collaboration with various law enforcement entities, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Chicago Police Department. Despite these challenges, the investigators remained relentless in their pursuit of justice.
In June 2022, nearly six years after the murders, an arrest was made in connection with the case. Dante D. Dockett, a 44-year-old male from Chicago, was arrested and charged with the murders of Reginald Neal, Dangelo Neal, and Davante Hopkins. Dockett was taken into federal custody, and the authorities emphasized that the investigation was still ongoing, with the possibility of additional arrests in the future.
The arrest of Dockett was a significant development in the case, bringing some measure of closure to the families of the victims. Sheriff Mike Downey credited the cooperation of all the agencies involved and highlighted the importance of collective efforts in solving such complex cases. The Kankakee County Sheriff's Office continues to encourage anyone with information related to the incident to come forward, as the pursuit of justice for Reginald Neal and his sons remains a priority.
