Charges against pair in connection with fatal Monroe shooting held for court

Charges for two suspects in connection with a fatal shooting that left two people dead and one in critical condition in Monroe County earlier this month have been held for court.

Matthew Burke, 21, of East Stroudsburg, and Deani Powell, 20, of Easton, had preliminary hearings Friday before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.

In both instances, Mancuso ruled that bail is still denied.

The shooting happened at a home on Silver Maple Road in the Sun Valley section of Chestnuthill Township just after 10:30 p.m. Dec. 4.

When police arrived, they found Dylan Beinert, 22, dead, and Khalil Durante, 23, and his father, Walter Howard Durante, had been critically injured.

According to police, Beinert met Powell on Tinder and Snapchat and set up a drug deal before the shooting.

When Beinert showed Powell the drugs in his bedroom, a witness said Powell left to get her wallet out of her vehicle, but instead sent in Eric Gulley, 41, of Allentown, Burke and another man with guns to rob him, but a struggle between the men ensued with Beinert eventually getting shot.

The gunmen then told the two Durantes, as well as three other people who were at the residence, to lie face down on the kitchen floor while they removed items from the home.

After getting everyone outside the house, police said, one of the gunmen told Khalil Durante to “say your prayers,” and then shot him while he was praying. Walter Durante screamed, according to the witness, and was also shot by the gunman. The gunmen then fled in two vehicles that were waiting along Silver Maple Road.

During the interview with Pennsylvania State Police at Fern Ridge, Powell said one of the men was wearing a pig mask, one was wearing a black Halloween mask and carrying a rifle, and a third unknown man had his hood up partially covering his head.

On Dec. 7, Khalil Durante was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital — Pocono.

A GoFundMe account in Khalil’s honor to help with funeral costs and any medical expenses the family will experience was previously set up.

According to the account, Khalil “was a loving member of our community, an esteemed chef and stand-up individual with a unique ability to bring people together in different ways. Among the many other things he was to us, he was a devoted son, an unwavering brother, a loyal friend, and family to all in which his reach extended.”

Burke faces charges on 17 counts of robbery; five counts of criminal homicide; three counts of aggravated assault; and one count each of burglary, persons not to possess/use/manufacture, control, sell, transfer firearms, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Powell, who had already been charged with homicide, robbery and aggravated assault following the shooting, faces charges on 17 counts of robbery; five counts of criminal homicide; three counts of aggravated assault; and one count each of burglary and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Burke and Powell are scheduled to have their formal arraignment Jan. 27 at the Monroe County Courthouse.

Gulley was also charged with illegal possession of a firearm and evidence tampering, and was arraigned before District Judge Danielle Travagline, of Hamilton Township.

He remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Jan. 24 before Mancuso.