Search warrant leads to drug offenses against reputed gang leader, authorities said
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
William C. “Pumpkin” Shockley Jr., already jailed on robbery, aggravated assault and witness intimidation charges, now faces drug-dealing offenses, authorities said.
A reputed street-gang leader known as “Pumpkin” – jailed earlier this month for allegedly pistol-whipping, robbing and threatening a Coatesville man – faces more charges, District Attorney Tom Hogan said today.
Hogan said when investigators executed a search warrant at the residence of William C. Shockley Jr., 24, they found 138 packets of marijuana ready for distribution as well as various “stop-snitching items.”
Drug-dealing offenses have been added to Shockley’s charges, which include robbery aggravated assault, and witness intimidation, Hogan said.
“If you are a violent offender, we will come after you,” Hogan said. “If you are the leader of a gang, we will use all our resources to bring down you and your crew.”
According to the first criminal complaint, Shockley stole $4,000 and assaulted the victim, who is not being identified by police, on April 11 at Shockley’s home in the 100 block of Strode Avenue. The victim, who lost consciousness after being struck with the handgun, was treated for a broken nose and head injury at Brandywine Hospital, Hogan said.
In June, Shockley sent a letter to the victim “which contained threats of physical violence” if the victim reported the incident to police, the complaint said.
The second criminal complaint said Coatesville police and members of the Chester County Municipal Drug Task Force executing the search warrant found three gallon-size plastic bags in a third-floor bedroom. The ziplock bags contained 138 individual packets of material that tested positive for marijuana, the complaint said.
According to court records, Shockley has been arrested dozens of times; however, many of the charges, including drug offenses, have been dismissed or withdrawn. In November 2008, he was sentenced to six to 23 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, court records said.
Shockley has been incarcerated at Chester County Prison since investigators found him hiding in a hotel in Kinzers, Lancaster County, and he was unable to post $30,000 cash bail, Hogan said.
