Prosecutors say a convicted killer carried out a string of shootings across Pennsylvania and Delaware in 2021.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Testimony began this week in the murder trial of Keith Gibson, a 44-year-old man accused of killing four people in Philadelphia during a violent 2021 crime spree that prosecutors say stretched across state lines and left multiple victims dead.
Jurors are hearing evidence tied to the deaths of Roy Caban, Eric Flores, Christine Lugo and Gibson’s mother, Christine Gibson. The case has drawn renewed attention because Gibson was already serving life sentences in Delaware for two other killings committed during the same period. Prosecutors contend the Philadelphia charges represent only part of a broader series of crimes that unfolded over several months and involved robberies, shootings and assaults in two states.
According to prosecutors, the sequence of events began after Gibson’s release from prison. Court records and corrections officials have said he was convicted in Delaware in 2010 on manslaughter and weapons charges. After serving time and later being incarcerated again for a probation violation, he was released and was no longer in custody by early 2021. Authorities allege that on Jan. 28, 2021, Gibson entered a store in Philadelphia’s Germantown section and fatally shot Roy Caban and Eric Flores. Investigators later linked the killings to Gibson and alleged they marked the start of a deadly series of crimes. Less than two weeks later, prosecutors say, Gibson shot and killed his mother, Christine Gibson, while she was working inside a community center in Philadelphia. At the time, investigators had not yet filed charges against him in that case, but prosecutors now allege the killing was part of the same violent pattern.
Evidence presented by the prosecution centers on a timeline that stretches from Philadelphia into neighboring Delaware. Authorities say Gibson traveled south after the Philadelphia killings. On May 15, 2021, prosecutors allege, he entered a Metro PCS store in Elsmere, Delaware, during a robbery and shot 28-year-old Leslie Ruiz-Basilio to death before stealing her vehicle. Less than a month later, authorities say, he killed 42-year-old Ronald Wright during another robbery. Delaware investigators have described those crimes as part of a cold-blooded spree that included additional robberies, assaults and an attempted murder involving other victims. Prosecutors contend the crimes demonstrate a continuing pattern of violence rather than isolated incidents. Defense attorneys are expected to challenge aspects of the state’s narrative as the trial progresses, though many details of their strategy had not yet been presented publicly at the opening stages of the proceedings.
The Philadelphia case also focuses heavily on the death of Christine Lugo, a 40-year-old Dunkin’ manager whose killing shocked coworkers and customers. Prosecutors allege that on June 5, 2021, Gibson entered a Dunkin’ location on West Lehigh Avenue while Lugo was managing the store. According to the allegations, he forced her to open the cash register and surrender approximately $300. Prosecutors say that after obtaining the money, he shot Lugo and fled. Authorities have characterized the shooting as an execution-style killing carried out during a robbery attempt. Lugo’s death became one of the most widely discussed incidents connected to the broader investigation because she was working during a routine shift when she was attacked. Family members later remembered her as a hardworking employee whose death left a lasting impact on relatives, friends and coworkers.
Investigators say the alleged spree came to an end only days later. Authorities arrested Gibson after a robbery at a Rite Aid store in Wilmington, Delaware. Prosecutors say he assaulted a clerk during that incident, and law enforcement officers subsequently took him into custody. The arrest provided investigators an opportunity to connect evidence from multiple jurisdictions and begin assembling cases that involved numerous victims. Delaware prosecutors later secured convictions connected to two murders committed in that state, resulting in life prison sentences. The Philadelphia proceedings now address the remaining homicide allegations connected to the earlier stages of the investigation. Court officials have not indicated how long the current trial is expected to last, but testimony is expected to include evidence gathered by police departments from both Pennsylvania and Delaware.
As the trial moves forward, jurors are expected to hear from investigators, forensic experts and individuals connected to the victims. Prosecutors have portrayed the case as one involving a sustained series of violent acts that crossed county and state boundaries. Family members of the victims have attended proceedings as the court revisits events that occurred more than five years ago. The outcome could determine Gibson’s legal responsibility for four additional deaths beyond those for which he has already been convicted. The case also raises questions about the circumstances surrounding his release from custody before the killings and how authorities responded as the alleged crime spree unfolded.
The trial remained underway Thursday, with prosecutors continuing to present evidence. Additional witness testimony is expected in the coming days as jurors weigh the allegations connected to the Philadelphia killings.
Author note: Last updated June 4, 2026.