A man was found guilty of murder, among other charges, for killing a university student while driving a stolen U-Haul van on Main St. in April of last year.

Gordon Turner, a 23-year-old New Castle resident, was identified as the driver of the stolen vehicle by the Newark Police Department shortly after the incident. He was fleeing from the police when he killed Marina Vasconcelos, a university student, and critically injured another. 

On June 5, Turner was officially convicted of murder in the first degree, manslaughter, two counts of assault in the first degree, six counts of assault in the third degree, two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, disregarding a police signal, reckless endangerment in the second degree and theft of a motor vehicle.

Last year, on April 29, officers approached Turner and the passenger in the van while they were parked because the U-Haul was past due. He sped away as they approached, colliding with a police car. Although the police did not pursue the vehicle, Turner continued to speed down Main St., resulting in the fatal crash.

Vasconcelos was a 24-year-old, third-year doctoral student pursuing a degree in chemistry and biochemistry at the university. Another graduate student was critically injured in the crash, along with minor injuries to other pedestrians.

Since the crash, students and community members have called for change regarding pedestrian safety on major roads surrounding the university. 

“This conviction is an important step toward justice for the victims and their families, who have endured unimaginable loss and pain,” Newark Police Department Chief Mark Farrall said in a statement.

As he waits for his sentencing to be scheduled, Turner faces a minimum mandatory life sentence in prison.