Delaware State Police have arrested 59-year-old Stephen Kurtz. of Dover, Delaware, for home improvement fraud and felony theft.

Beginning in November 2025, troopers began investigating Stephen Kurtz for home improvement fraud. During the investigation, troopers learned that Kurtz had signed a contract with a 64-year-old Rehoboth Beach man in February 2025, to do construction work and received over $38,000 in payments. Kurtz never completed the work and the victim’s money was not reimbursed. A warrant was obtained for his arrest.

On January 7, 2026, Kurtz was arrested and charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

• Home Improvement Fraud by False Pretense – $1,500 or Greater and the Victim is 62 Years of Age or Older (Felony)
• Theft $1,500 or Greater and the Victim is 62 Years of Age or Older (Felony)

Troopers are asking anyone who may have been defrauded by Kurtz in a similar manner to please contact Troop 4 Financial Crimes at 302-856-5850. 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.

The Delaware State Police arrested 49-year-old James Atkins of Newark, Delaware, for felony assault following a road rage incident Tuesday afternoon.

On January 6, 2026, at approximately 3:15 p.m., troopers responded to a parking lot outside Aspira Delaware, located at 326 Ruthar Drive, in Newark, for a report of an assault. Troopers learned Atkins and a woman were involved in a road rage incident on Ruthar Drive, near Red Mill Road. During the incident, Atkins followed the woman as she drove into the parking lot. Atkins blocked the only possible exit with his truck so the woman couldn’t leave. The woman asked nearby school staff for help. When the woman returned to her vehicle, Atkins pepper sprayed her and returned to his truck. The woman followed Atkins to his truck where a second confrontation occurred, and Atkins’ truck was damaged.

Troopers arrested Atkins without incident.

The woman was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Atkins was taken to Troop 6 where he was charged with Assault Second Degree (Felony), arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $10,000 cash bond.

The Delaware State Police is investigating a convenience store robbery that occurred early Tuesday morning in Claymont.

On January 6, 2026, at approximately 2:40 a.m., troopers responded to Dash In, located at 3700 Philadelphia Pike, in Claymont, for a reported robbery. The preliminary investigation revealed a man entered the business and acted as if he was armed. The suspect demanded the store employee open the cash register, then stole cash. The suspect ran away in an unknown direction. No one was injured during the incident.

The suspect was described as a man, wearing all black clothing, a face mask, and gloves.

The Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives ask anyone who witnessed the robbery, or has relevant information, to contact Detective R. Strecker at (302) 365-8413. 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 are investigating a shooting incident that occurred last night in Frankford.

On January 5, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m., troopers responded to Honolulu Road near Kauffman Lane in Frankford for a report of shots fired. The preliminary investigation revealed that an unknown suspect fired multiple shots that struck an occupied residence. Five people were in the home at the time, and no one was injured.

Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives ask anyone who has relevant information to contact Detective P. LaPlaca by calling (302) 752-3798. 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 Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit are investigating a shots-fired incident that occurred on Friday evening in Wilmington.

On January 2, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m., troopers responded to the 700 block of Woodside Avenue in Wilmington for a report of a vehicle damaged by gunfire. The preliminary investigation revealed a man, driving a 2019 BMW X5, turned right onto Marsh Road from the Branmar Plaza shopping center parking lot located at 1812 Marsh Road. Shortly after traveling on Marsh Road, the driver heard glass shattering and saw the rear window of the vehicle broken.

There are no reported injuries. The BMW sustained a broken rear window. A projectile was recovered from the rear of the BMW. There is no further information available for the suspect(s) at this time. Surveillance video and images are not available.

The Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed this incident or has information regarding this case to contact Detective B. Timmons at (302) 365-8434. 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 are investigating a shots-fired incident that occurred early Friday morning in Magnolia.

On January 2, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., troopers responded to the 100 block of Whitetail Lane for a late-reported shots-fired complaint. Upon arrival, troopers located shell casings in the roadway in front of a residence. No one was injured, and no residences were struck by gunfire.

The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 2:00 a.m. the same day, a dark-colored SUV drove past the residence and discharged multiple rounds toward the home before fleeing the area.

Delaware State Police Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed or has information regarding this case to contact Detective I. Hitchens at 302-698-8503. 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 following individuals are not wanted for failing to register or re-register at their current address. This is a Homeless Sex Offender Public Notification. If you have information that the listed individuals are occupying a residence, please call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

Note: The individuals shown are those recently reported as homeless; the homeless sex offender link includes the complete list of all homeless registrants.

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

Note: Some of the individuals listed below are also homeless. Their profiles will not be duplicated in the separate homeless sex offender news release, as their wanted status is already reflected here and within their public sex offender registry listing. The individuals shown represent a portion of the current wanted sex offenders. The wanted sex offenders link provides direct access to the complete list of all wanted sex offenders maintained on the Delaware Sex Offender Registry website.

The Delaware State Police is providing the following information to assist members of the public planning to attend the Celebration of Life for Cpl/1 Matthew T. “Ty” Snook, which will take place on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the University of Delaware Bob Carpenter Center, located at 631 S. College Avenue, Newark, Delaware.

Service Information

The Celebration of Life will honor Cpl/1 Snook’s life and service. For details regarding the timeline of the services and to learn more about Cpl/1 Snook, please visit the following link: Obituary for Matthew Tyler “Ty” Snook

For those unable to attend in person, the Celebration of Life will be livestreamed and broadcasted on the Delaware State Police YouTube channel. The livestream will begin around 12:00 p.m. on January 5, 2026.

Traffic Advisory

Expect delays in the area of the Bob Carpenter Center on January 5th.

• Interstate 95 southbound will be temporarily closed in the area of Christiana Mall to Route 896 beginning around 6:30 a.m. for a short period of time to accommodate the convoy of law enforcement officers, first responders, and other public safety partners traveling to the service.
• Motorists are encouraged to plan alternate routes and allow additional travel time.

Public Parking Information

Parking at the Bob Carpenter Center will be limited. Once the main parking areas reach capacity, members of the public will be directed to overflow parking lots.

• University of Delaware Police Department, Newark Police Department, and DelDOT personnel will be on scene to assist with traffic flow and provide directions to overflow parking locations.
• If needed, the University of Delaware will operate shuttle buses to transport attendees from the overflow lots to the Bob Carpenter Center.

Attendees are encouraged to follow all instructions from law enforcement and DelDOT to maximize safety and provide everyone an opportunity to pay their respects.

Media Advisory

Members of the media planning to attend are asked to RSVP in advance by emailing the Delaware State Police Public Information Office at dsp_piomail@delaware.gov.

• Media parking will be limited, and advance coordination is required to ensure adequate space.
• Upon RSVP, media will receive a media packet containing timelines, a parking map, and other pertinent information.
• Media representatives attending are required to have valid credentials and must follow all instructions provided by the Delaware State Police Public Information Office.
• Media are asked to RSVP no later than 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2026, to ensure accommodations.

The Delaware State Police thanks the public for their patience, cooperation, and continued support as the agency honors the life and service of Cpl/1 Matthew T. “Ty” Snook.

The Delaware State Police arrested 45-year-old Victor Shipley, of Wilmington, Delaware, for attempted robbery and related charges on Monday afternoon in Newark.

On December 29, 2025, troopers responded to Center Pointe Plaza, located at 1291 Churchmans Road, in Newark, for what was originally reported as a suspicious person. Multiple bystanders directed responding troopers towards a man, identified as Victor Shipley, who was walking through the parking lot, and placing his personal items under a parked car.

The investigation revealed Shipley approached a woman, who was loading her vehicle, and demanded money. The woman handed over an undisclosed amount of money and entered the driver’s seat to leave. Shipley got into the vehicle’s front passenger seat and demanded the woman perform a lewd act. While inside her car, Shipley took the car keys and refused to let her go.

A passerby spoke to Shipley and the woman, then called 9-1-1 after finding the interaction to be suspicious. Shipley eventually left the woman’s vehicle. He was arrested by responding troopers without incident. The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.

Shipley was taken to Troop 2 where he was charged with the below listed offenses, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $56,000.00 cash bond.

• Attempted to Commit Robbery First Degree (Felony)
• Attempted to Commit Sexual Extortion (Felony)
• Unlawful Imprisonment Second Degree