Desmond Antonio Hines, known on the streets as "Head," will be calling a 16-foot cell home for the next 16 years after a federal jury convicted him for illegal possession of a firearm and narcotics. In a recent announcement by U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., 35-year-old Hines was tied to a Glock .40 caliber handgun involved in a shooting that tragically ended a local rapper's life. Beyond the personal crimes and tragedies, this case spotlights the broader societal epidemic of violence that is scrambling law enforcement efforts to keep communities safe.
A whiff of marijuana during a traffic stop on November 7, 2020, led to Hines' initial encounter with Wilmington police, where they uncovered more than just a blunt and skunky air. During an attempted arrest, Hines bolted but eventually, the cops tackled him down and discovered he was packing a robust cocktail of drugs. Cut to March 31, 2022, in what could have been a scene lifted from Pac-Man with cops and a minivan doing the chase, Hines evades again, flinging a loaded Glock in some unsuspecting azaleas. Kudos to the alert neighbors, whose tips led to the retrieval of said Glock — connecting dots from Hines to the earlier shootout, said Easley, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The gun came with some interesting companions: an extended magazine and 20 rounds of ammunition, including stylish red-tipped Hornady Critical Defense rounds. Interestingly, Hines’ home contained a box of the same rounds, just slightly lighter. To top it off, Hines' DNA was found on the Glock. Ballistic testing linked it to a deadly shootout, as confirmed by Easley in an official statement.
Hines’ rap sheet and recent conviction enmesh him in the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) — a joint journey by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies diving into the task of slicing through violent crime rates. This initiative thrives on intelligent enforcement and pinpoint strategies to dismantle the mechanisms of violence in Wilmington. According to Easley, strategies like VCAP have one goal: When law enforcement and communities band together, when "neighbors start talking, the shooting starts stopping," a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced Hines at the culmination of the case, which saw collaboration between the Wilmington Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This collective law enforcement muscle aims to maintain the momentum of VCAP.
