In the summer of 2015, what began as a purported drug deal tragically ended the life of 35-year-old Francis Vandy. A resident of Willingboro, New Jersey, Vandy, a Black / African American male, had arranged to meet with individuals in Franklin on June 30th for what he believed was a marijuana transaction. The meeting, however, was a setup for a robbery that would ultimately turn fatal.
That evening, in the area of Hempstead Drive, Francis Vandy was found deceased, having suffered an
apparent gunshot wound. An investigation quickly revealed the grim circumstances of his death. He had gone to meet Dashawn Carreker for a drug deal that had been arranged by Derrick Carreker. During this encounter, Dashawn Carreker and another man, Emendo 'Sport' Hill, attempted to rob Vandy. In the course of the robbery, Dashawn Carreker shot and killed him. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a dark, four-door vehicle fleeing the area immediately after the sound of gunshots.
A thorough 10-month investigation conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and the Franklin Township Police Department unraveled a larger criminal enterprise. The investigation culminated in the indictment of six men connected to a crime spree that included Vandy's murder. Among them, Dashawn Carreker, then 23, of New Brunswick, and Emendo Hill, 27, of Piscataway, were directly indicted for the murder and felony murder of Francis Vandy.
The broader investigation brought to light a series of violent crimes that had plagued the area. Just days before Vandy's murder, on June 24, 2015, some of the same individuals were involved in an aggravated assault at a convenience store on Route 27, which also occurred during an alleged marijuana transaction. Following Vandy's death, on July 1, 2015, detectives executed a search warrant at a residence in North Brunswick. There, they apprehended Dashawn Carreker as he was attempting to flee and conceal a handgun. A search of the premises also uncovered heroin, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Carreker was initially arrested on drug and weapons charges but was later identified as a key figure in Vandy's murder and other violent robberies. The other individuals indicted in connection with the crime spree were Divendra Bhim, Darral Black, Derick Carreker, and Darry Latney, who faced a range of charges including robbery, aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of drugs and a handgun.
