The Delaware State Police are investigating a homicide that occurred in Laurel on Sunday afternoon.

On October 29, 2023, at approximately 2:47 p.m., troopers responded to a reported shooting on the 500 block of West 7th Street in the town limits of Laurel. Arriving troopers located an 18-year-old male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the porch of a residence. The victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified. Two additional victims were located on the porch, suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower extremities. The 15-year-old male and the 13-year-old male were transported to an area hospital, where they remain admitted in stable condition. All three victims are from Laurel, Delaware.

Due to the nature of the investigation, the Laurel Police Department requested that the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit assume the investigation. A preliminary investigation revealed two unknown suspects approached the victims on foot and started shooting. After numerous rounds were fired, the suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction. The investigation has determined that this was not the result of an active shooter situation.

The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective M. Csapo by calling 302-741-2729. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

The Delaware State Police are investigating a homicide that occurred in the parking lot of a strip mall last night in Selbyville.

On October 28, 2023, at approximately 11:56 p.m., troopers responded to a reported shooting in the parking lot of a strip mall located at 36334 Dupont Boulevard in Selbyville. Arriving troopers observed several vehicles fleeing the scene and located numerous shell casings in the parking lot. Shortly thereafter, troopers received reports of a 21-year-old woman suffering from a gunshot wound at a nearby hospital, where she was ultimately pronounced dead. The Milford woman’s name is being withheld until her family and relatives are notified. A second victim, a 30-year-old woman from Seaford, Delaware, was also taken by a private vehicle to a nearby hospital, where she was treated and released for a gunshot wound to her upper extremity.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a Halloween party took place at a business within the strip mall. At some point during the event, a fight broke out and the party goers were asked to disperse. The fight continued in the parking lot, at which point an unknown suspect displayed a handgun and began shooting. The two victims were not involved in the altercation. The 21-year-old victim was attempting to get to her car when she was struck in the upper torso. The 30-year-old victim was seated in her car in the parking lot when it was struck by gunfire. Following the shooting, the crowd dispersed, and the unknown suspect fled the area in an unknown direction.

The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective A. Bluto by calling 302-741-2859. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

The Delaware State Police are investigating an armed robbery that took place Friday night at a 7-11 in Newark.

On October 27, 2023, at approximately 9:43 p.m., troopers responded to the 7-11 located at 699 E. Chestnut Hill Road in Newark for a report of an armed robbery. Troopers discovered an unknown male suspect approached an employee in the convenience store while displaying a handgun at him and demanded cash from the register. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the business on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Responding troopers attempted to find the suspect in the surrounding area but were unable to locate him.

The victim was not harmed. The suspect is described as a male wearing dark colored clothing. Surveillance video and images are not yet available.

The Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit is investigating this incident. Detectives are asking for anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective B. Harris by calling 302-365-8410. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime, or you have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

The Delaware State Police are investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash that occurred early this morning in Middletown that left one man dead.

On October 28, 2023, at approximately 3:19 a.m., a black 2019 Chrysler 300 was traveling westbound on Blackbird Landing Road, east of State Route 13, at an apparent high rate of speed. The Chrysler failed to maintain its lane, traveled off the roadway, and collided with a dirt berm in a grassy drainage ditch. It continued to travel westbound in the ditch and collided with a utility pole. The Chrysler then struck the driveway culvert for a residence and went airborne, where it struck another utility pole. The Chrysler ultimately came to rest in the drainage ditch west of the second utility pole and became engulfed in fire.

The driver of the Chrysler was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver’s name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified.

The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues investigating this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this crash to contact Senior Corporal M. Calio by calling (302) 365-8483. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (S.O.A.R.) is currently looking for the following wanted sex offender after he either failed to register or re-register at his current address. If anyone knows the location of this person, they are asked to call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

The following people are not wanted. This is a Homeless Sex Offender Public Notification. If you have information that the listed people are occupying a residence, please call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

The Delaware State Police continues to investigate a Millsboro area pedestrian crash that occurred Wednesday night after 77-year-old Bruce Peterson of Millsboro, Delaware, died on October 26, 2023, from injuries sustained in the crash.

On October 25, 2023, at approximately 9:23 p.m., a pedestrian was walking westbound along the shoulder of Long Neck Road eastbound, east of School Lane Road in Millsboro. At the same time, a black 2014 Chrysler 300 and a white 2015 Ford Escort were traveling eastbound on Long Neck Road approaching the pedestrian. For unknown reasons, the pedestrian, who was not carrying a light or wearing any reflective clothing, entered the eastbound travel lane in the Chrysler’s path. As a result, the Chrysler braked rapidly and was struck in the rear by the Ford, while the front of the Chrysler struck the pedestrian.

The pedestrian, identified as Bruce Peterson, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was admitted for life-threatening injuries. On October 26, 2023, he died from injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the Chrysler, a 37-year-old woman, and the driver of the Ford, a 23-year-old woman, both from Millsboro, Delaware, were not injured.

Long Neck Road eastbound was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and the roadway was cleared.

Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed this crash to contact Sergeant J. Burns by calling (302) 703-3269. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate a Wilmington area hit and run crash that occurred on July 2, 2023, after 43-year-old Lawrence Williams of Newark, Delaware, died on October 23, 2023, from injuries sustained in the crash.

The fleeing vehicle is an unknown white Nissan sedan (pictured below).

Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed this collision or has information about the fleeing vehicle to please contact Sergeant J. Jefferson by calling 302-365-8484. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

Delaware State Police investigated a threatening image reported by Cape Henlopen High School and Sussex Central High School.

On October 25, 2023, at approximately 2:44 p.m., the Cape Henlopen High School staff contacted the Delaware State Police regarding a concerning image of a gun and a threat to the school that is circulating on social media. In addition, Sussex Central High School staff contacted the Delaware State Police regarding the same concerning image. The investigation revealed the image has been circulating nationwide for the last several years. At this time, the Delaware State Police has no intelligence indicating that the threat was credible. Be mindful that the absence of intelligence does not mean the lack of a threat. Always call 911 to report suspicious activity.

Delaware State Police have identified 18-year-old Ethan Statham of Dover, Delaware, as the man who died in a fatal motorcycle crash on Tuesday afternoon in Dover.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Sergeant A. Mitchell by calling 302-698-8518. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.