In May of 2007, the life of Eric Caldwell was tragically cut short on a street in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was found deceased, having been shot multiple times in the back. The keys to his car were still in his hands, a haunting detail in a case that would grow cold over the next four years. The initial investigation yielded few leads, and the killing was eventually relegated to the cold case files, leaving his family and community searching for answers and justice.
The silence
surrounding the case was finally broken in August of 2011, when the persistence of two detectives, Todd Nuttall of the Chester Police Department and William Gordon of the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division, brought forth a significant breakthrough. Their renewed efforts and interviews with numerous witnesses who were near the intersection of Patterson and Barclay Streets on the night of the shooting led them to two suspects: James Armstrong, then 27, and Rashad Ishmail, then 30, both from Chester.
With sufficient evidence gathered, authorities moved to apprehend the two men. Armstrong was arrested without incident in Chester, while Ishmail was taken into custody in Philadelphia. Both men were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and weapons violations. According to the Delaware County District Attorney, the motive behind the killing was a dispute over money. It was alleged that Caldwell was approached by Armstrong and Ishmail, who demanded a payment. When Caldwell began to run, the two men chased him down and shot him multiple times. One witness recounted a conversation with Armstrong after the murder, where Armstrong allegedly admitted to the killing, stating it was because Caldwell owed his "man" money. Another witness claimed to have seen Ishmail punch Caldwell outside a bar before the chase and subsequent shooting. Following their arrests, both James Armstrong and Rashad Ishmail were held without bail.
