DOJ secures life sentences, additional time for two men involved in the murder of Shiheem Durham

On March 18, Jason Calhum and Khalil Dixon were sentenced to life plus additional years in prison for multiple convictions including Murder First Degree in connection with the 2020 murder of Shiheem Durham.

Jason Calhum, 24, of Middletown, Delaware was sentenced to life plus an additional 14 years in prison for convictions of Murder First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy First Degree, Money Laundering, Gang Participation, and three counts of Conspiracy Second Degre.

Khalil Dixon, 29, of Dover, Delaware was sentenced to life plus an additional eight years in prison for convictions of Murder First Degree, Conspiracy First Degree, Money Laundering, Conspiracy Second Degree, and Criminal Solicitation First Degree. Both Calhum and Dixon were previously convicted of the same charges in May 2022; due to a juror issue their original convictions were overturned in February 2025, prompting a retrial.

"These sentences are the culmination of a remarkable team effort between our DOJ prosecutors, the Wilmington Police Department, the Middletown Police Department, and the Delaware State Police, and I am grateful for all of their hard work," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "Delaware is a safer place because of it."

"These life sentences mark the latest round of consequences for this extremely violent group of offenders," said Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. "We are grateful for the dedicated work of our investigators and our partners at the Delaware Department of Justice for their tireless efforts to hold this group accountable and deliver justice on behalf of the victims of these crimes."

"We are thankful to our partners in the Delaware Department of Justice for their efforts in securing life sentences for this senseless murder," said Colonel William D. Crotty, the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. "The thorough investigation by the agencies involved and the successful prosecution by the DOJ highlight Delaware law enforcement's dedication to the common goal of public safety and securing justice for victims in our state."

In January 2020, Khalil Dixon put a bounty out on three individuals, including Shiheem Durham. Jason Calhum and other members/affiliates of a gang known as MGS conspired to carry out the murder-for-hire. On February 25, 2020, they traveled from Wilmington to Dover together and Calhum lured one of the targets of the bounty to a meeting for a purported drug deal. When the victim's vehicle arrived, Calhum fired a single shot into the vehicle, missing the driver and striking Durham in the front passenger seat. Following the murder, Dixon made several payments for the bounty. Also affiliated with this case, co-defendant Deonte Robinson was tried and convicted in October 2023.

The State's case against MGS began in September 2019 as an effort to address gang violence in Wilmington through a newly formed Task Force, which consisted of personnel from the Delaware Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, Wilmington Police Department, the ATF, and the FBI. Traces on crime guns recovered in and around Wilmington helped the Task Force identify MGS as a major driver of violence in Wilmington.

The ensuing investigation identified 19 defendants - 17 adults and 2 juveniles - involved with MGS or aligned gangs and numerous violent felonies, as well as a non-MGS member who contracted a Dover killing. The crimes included the killings of Shiheem Durham, Naithan Grzybowski, Tommier Dendy, and Eddie Green; a six-victim mass shooting at the intersection of 10th and Pine Streets in April 2019; six additional shooting cases; a robbery; and numerous gun offenses.

In addition to Calhum and Dixon, the convictions were:

• Tyrie Burton, 24, guilty of Conspiracy 1st Degree, Assault 1st Degree, two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Gang Participation, and Violation of Probation
• Davon Walker, 23, guilty of Murder 2nd Degree (Grzybowski), Murder 2nd Degree (Dendy), Murder 2nd Degree (Green), Gang Participation, and Conspiracy 1st DegreePierre Carter-Bailey, 23, guilty of Assault 1st Degree, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Deonta Carney, 23, guilty of Gang Participation
• Zakier Smith, 24, guilty of Assault 2nd Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Gang Participation
• Lloyd Smith, 23, guilty of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Concealed Carry of a Deadly Weapon, and Conspiracy 2nd Degree
• Dahmere White, 26, guilty of Possession of a firearm by a Person Prohibited and Gang Participation
• Marcell Dixon, 29, guilty of Concealed Carry of a Deadly Weapon, Gang Participation, and Violation of Probation
• Jakeem Bush, 21, guilty of Gang Participation
• Antonio Wright, 32, guilty of Providing a Firearm to a Person Prohibited, and Gang Participation.
• Nathaniel Murray, 22, guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Concealed Carry of a Deadly Weapon, and Gang Participation.
• Jahmier Robinson-Handy, 21, guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and Concealed Carry of a Deadly Weapon.
• Clarence Jarman, 22, guilty of Gang Participation.
• Zyamese Mobley, 24, guilty of Gang Participation.
• Darielle Oliver, 22, no contest to Hindering Prosecution
• Two minors each guilty of Gang Participation.