Final suspect arrested in Chestnuthill homicide

United States Marshal Martin J. Pane announced the arrest of Zaire Unique Burkett, 20, of Whitehall in a Chestnuthill robbery and shooting death.

On Dec. 4, 2019, the Pennsylvania State Police investigated a homicide in 1700 block of Silver Maple Road, Effort. Troopers determined that the victim was shot and killed during a robbery.

On Dec. 7, 2019, troopers obtained an arrest warrant charging Burkett with criminal homicide, robbery and lesser included offenses. Attempts to find Burkett were unsuccessful and the case was adopted by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.

At about 6 a.m. Friday members of the task force checked a home in the 700 block of South Eighth Street, Allentown and arrested Burkett without incident. He was turned over to the Pennsylvania State Police and was arraigned Friday afternoon.

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 Burke and Burkett 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.

Eric Gulley, 41, of Allentown, also faces charges of illegal possession of a firearm and evidence tampering in the incident.

United States Marshal Pane stated, “It’s the Marshals Services’ duty to ensure that those charged with violent crimes have their day in court. It is my sincere hope that the victim’s family will find some measure of comfort knowing the suspect will face justice.”

The USMS Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is comprised of 20 state, county and local police agencies, including: the Pennsylvania State Police; the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole; and the Scranton Police Department – all of whom participated in this investigation.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.