WILMINGTON – Detectives recently charged a Wilmington man with the drug overdose death of 28-year-old Joshua Adams McBride in May. According to Samantha Dooies, assistant to District Attorney Ben David, an overdose-related murder charge has not been prosecuted in New Hanover County in the last 17 years.
Aquan De’Shae Richardson, 25, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the heroin-related overdose death of McBride on May 18, Wilmington Police Department Spokeswoman Cathryn Lindsay said. He was arrested in the 4100 block of Princess Place Drive at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, jail records show.
Detectives suspect Richardson distributed the heroin knowing they would likely cause serious injury or death, Lindsay said.
In addition to the second-degree murder charge, Richardson faces charges of four counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, two counts of selling and delivering heroin, two counts of selling or delivering a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, one count of selling or delivering a counterfeit controlled substance, possession with intent to sell or deliver a counterfeit controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Richardson was booked at the New Hanover County jail under a $5.5 million secured bond.
