In the fall of 2015, the life of 30-year-old Derrick Burrell Jr., an African American man from Chester, Pennsylvania, was tragically cut short. On November 13, 2015, Burrell was killed by gun violence, a death that would leave a lasting impact on his family and the community. His case was one of several homicides that occurred in Delaware County that year, drawing significant attention from local law enforcement.
The circumstances surrounding Burrell's death were linked to a home
invasion robbery that had occurred nearly a year earlier. According to police reports, on November 24, 2014, three men broke into a residence in the 2600 block of Edgmont Avenue, near the Chester border. During the robbery, a victim was assaulted as the suspects demanded money and attempted to steal a television. The victims described the perpetrators as two Black males and one white male.
In a significant development in the robbery case, Kevin Strickland, identified as Derrick Burrell Jr.'s brother, was arrested. Following his arrest, Strickland confessed to his involvement in the home invasion and implicated his brother as one of his accomplices. His confession included details that only someone present at the scene would know, which strengthened the case against him. Strickland was subsequently charged with felony robbery and related offenses.
Despite the breakthrough in the robbery case and the implication of Derrick Burrell Jr., his own murder remains an unresolved chapter. The Chester Police Department and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division were involved in the homicide investigation. Detectives were assigned to the case, and a search warrant for DNA evidence was secured. However, to date, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests or identified suspects in the shooting death of Derrick Burrell Jr. His case remains a poignant reminder of the violent crime that has affected the Chester community.
