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NEWARK, Del.– The U-Haul driver who fatally struck a North East woman on Newark's Main Street last year is facing a mandatory life sentence after being convicted of murder and related charges.A jury found Gordon Turner, 23, guilty of first-degree murder, manslaughter, two counts of first-degree assault, six counts of third-degree assault, two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, disregarding a police signal, second-degree reckless endangering and theft of a motor vehicle.“The reckless and cowardly actions of the defendant can never be undone – but this result is a critical step towards justice for those that he victimized and their families,” Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said.“As we move towards sentencing, I will ensure that my office continues to be uncompromising in its pursuit of justice in this case.I’m grateful to our DOJ trial team and our law enforcement partners in Newark for their diligent work in securing these convictions.” The crash happened at approximately 4:30 p.m.April 29, 2025, as Main Street was bustling with residents and University of Delaware students enjoying the warm spring afternoon.Earlier in the day, police got a hit on a license plate reader for a U-Haul van that had been reported missing after it was rented but not returned on time.Officers found the van at Newark Shopping Center and waited to see if anyone returned to it.After approximately 45 minutes, Turner and his passenger arrived and got into the van.Police vehicles with their emergency lights activated converged on the van, attempting to box it in to prevent it from leaving.However, Turner was able to escape by striking a police vehicle and driving over a curb.Turner then sped down Main Street, which had heavy vehicular traffic and many pedestrians crossing the street and walking on sidewalks.Court documents say he was going “well over the 25 mph speed limit” and was driving “without regard for the safety of other pedestrians and vehicles” but do not specify exactly how fast he was going.The passenger later acknowledged to police that Turner was driving recklessly.Turner narrowly avoided hitting several pedestrians who were crossing Main Street near South Chapel Street and then continued to the area of Main and Haines streets, where he struck two pedestrians.There were no signs that he attempted to brake before hitting them, court documents indicate.One of the pedestrians, UD doctoral student Marina Vasconcelos, 24, of North East, died at the scene.The other, UD doctoral student Audrey Collins, suffered life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, a major brachial vein bleed, a cervical spine fracture, a left elbow fracture and a large cut on her right arm.Turner continued down Main Street, hitting several parked cars before coming to a stop in front of the U.S.Post Office.Several other people, including some that were in the parked cars, suffered minor injuries.A police officer was also injured during the incident.After searching the U-Haul van, police found a handgun inside.“This was a senseless tragedy that deeply impacted our entire community,” Newark Police Chief Mark Farrall said.“This conviction is an important step toward justice for the victims and their families, who have endured unimaginable loss and pain.I could not be prouder of the Newark Police Department employees who responded to this tragic incident, managed an extraordinarily difficult scene, and carried this case forward with professionalism, compassion and resolve.” A criminal history in Cecil County Prior to the fatal Newark crash, Turner had a criminal history in Cecil County.Maryland State Police arrested Turner on July 25, 2023, and filed 32 charges against him, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to police and court records.Turner stood accused of firing six shots at a vehicle in the 1600 block of Elkton Road (Route 279), northeast of Elkton, from a passenger's seat in a moving black Nissan Altima, as both vehicles were traveling in the westbound lane on March 8, 2023.However, the Cecil County Office of the State’s Attorney dismissed the attempted murder case against Turner in May 2024 because of a "lack of witness cooperation,” according to the written statement authored by CCSO Chief Deputy Gerald Widdoes.As for the two times that Turner was released from jail – despite outstanding Pennsylvania warrants against him – officials at the Cecil County Detention Center learned shortly before his scheduled jail releases that he was wanted in Lancaster County, Pa., Widdoes explained last year.Jail officials acquired that information during a mandatory NCIC computer check that is conducted before the scheduled release of any inmate to make sure there is no reason to detain him or her, he noted.When CCSO officials learned that Turner was wanted, the agency obtained a fugitive warrant – blocking his scheduled jail release, Widdoes said.And then, during Turner's fugitive hearing, a judge set a deadline for Pennsylvania authorities to come to Cecil County and take him into their custody, Widdoes added.CCSO authorities contacted those Pennsylvania authorities, notifying them that they must arrest Turner and take him into their custody by the specified deadline, he reported.And both times, according to Widdoes, authorities in Lancaster County, Pa., failed to come to the Cecil County Detention Center and take Turner into their custody.Because of that failure to meet the deadline, CCDC officials – by law – had to release Turner from the jail.“When those deadlines came and went, we had to cut him loose,” Widdoes emphasized.