Arrest made in 2016 triple homicide case

KANKAKEE — Dante D. Dockett, 44, of Chicago, has been arrested on charges of a triple homicide that occurred October 2016 in Pembroke Township, according to Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey.

Dockett has been in federal custody for another case since October 2021, according to federal court documents.

In May, Dockett agreed to plead guilty to federal racketeering charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced in August.

On Oct. 1, 2016, Reginald Neal, 56, and his two sons, Dangelo Neal, 24, and Davante Hopkins, 21, were discovered by a family member. All three had been shot multiple times in the head inside their home in the 4300 South block of 15500E Road, according to the sheriff’s department.

There were no signs of forced entry, and the victims were found in different parts of the home, sheriff’s officials said at the time.

“We were confident an arrest would be made,” Downey said.

More arrests are expected, he said.

The triple homicide occurred the same day Ralph Ledet, 46, of Pembroke Township, was shot and killed, according to police.

James E. Beals, 60, was convicted of killing Ledet, 46, of Pembroke Township, in January 2020. Beals is serving 55 years.

“I want to credit our investigators. They kept working on this for a long time. They didn’t give up.

“This has been an extremely challenging investigation. Many of those involved were not from the immediate area, which required working collectively with other law enforcement entities.

“It should be noted, however, that we felt confident that the victims in this particular case were targeted and that the residents of Pembroke Township and Kankakee County were at no greater risk while the investigation pursued over time.”

As for a motive, Downey said there are many.

“At this point, a lot of things are involved,” he said. “Certainly there were business dealings.”

The sheriff’s department and Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Chicago Police Department on the investigation.

“Everything works better when you work together,” Downey said.

Jeff Bonty is a reporter for The Daily Journal. He can be reached at jbonty@daily-journal.com and 815-937-3366.

KANKAKEE — Dante D. Dockett, 44, of Chicago, has been arrested on charges of a triple homicide that occurred October 2016 in Pembroke Township, according to Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey.

Dockett has been in federal custody for another case since October 2021, according to federal court documents.

In May, Dockett agreed to plead guilty to federal racketeering charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced in August.

On Oct. 1, 2016, Reginald Neal, 56, and his two sons, Dangelo Neal, 24, and Davante Hopkins, 21, were discovered by a family member. All three had been shot multiple times in the head inside their home in the 4300 South block of 15500E Road, according to the sheriff’s department.

There were no signs of forced entry, and the victims were found in different parts of the home, sheriff’s officials said at the time.

“We were confident an arrest would be made,” Downey said.

More arrests are expected, he said.

The triple homicide occurred the same day Ralph Ledet, 46, of Pembroke Township, was shot and killed, according to police.

James E. Beals, 60, was convicted of killing Ledet, 46, of Pembroke Township, in January 2020. Beals is serving 55 years.

“I want to credit our investigators. They kept working on this for a long time. They didn’t give up.

“This has been an extremely challenging investigation. Many of those involved were not from the immediate area, which required working collectively with other law enforcement entities.

“It should be noted, however, that we felt confident that the victims in this particular case were targeted and that the residents of Pembroke Township and Kankakee County were at no greater risk while the investigation pursued over time.”

As for a motive, Downey said there are many.

“At this point, a lot of things are involved,” he said. “Certainly there were business dealings.”

The sheriff’s department and Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Chicago Police Department on the investigation.

“Everything works better when you work together,” Downey said.

Jeff Bonty is a reporter for The Daily Journal. He can be reached at jbonty@daily-journal.com and 815-937-3366.

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