Delaware State Police have arrested 25-year-old Daylast Deshields of Wilmington, Delaware, and obtained an arrest warrant for 34-year-old Brendan Davis of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for organized retail crime and related offenses that occurred last month at Target in Wilmington.

On October 2, 2025, detectives were notified of a high-dollar theft that occurred on September 28, 2025, at Target, located at 1050 Brandywine Parkway in Wilmington.

The investigation revealed that at approximately 9:00 a.m. on September 28, an unknown suspect loaded a shopping cart with over $900 worth of clothing and electronics. The suspect pushed the shopping cart out of the store to a waiting vehicle where his coconspirator assisted with loading the stolen merchandise.

Minutes later, the suspect returned to the Target and loaded another shopping cart with over $900 worth of similar merchandise. This time he was stopped by Target’s Asset Protection, so he abandoned the cart of merchandise and fled with his accomplice.

Through investigative means, Brendan Davis was identified as the suspect loading the carts and Daylast Deshields as the coconspirator.

On October 7, 2025, Deshields was arrested and taken to Troop 1, where he was charged with the below listed offenses, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and released on a $1000 unsecured bond.

• Theft – Organized Retail Crime Over $1500 (Felony)
• Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)

Davis is currently in custody at a correctional facility in West Chester, Pennsylvania, awaiting extradition to Delaware. Upon his return, Davis will be charged with the crimes listed below:

• Theft – Organized Retail Crime Over $1500 (Felony)
• Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)

Delaware State Police have identified 63-year-old Jorge Ruiz, of Seaford, Delaware, as the man who died in the fatal crash in Seaford on Wednesday.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Corporal Grade One K. Marvel at (302) 232-3435. 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 single-vehicle fatal crash that occurred in Seaford today.

On October 8, 2025, at approximately 2:54 p.m., a Buick Enclave was traveling northbound on Seaford Road approaching O’neal’s Road. For reasons still under investigation, the Buick left the east side of the roadway and as a result, struck a tree.

The driver, a 63-year-old man from Seaford, Delaware, was taken to an area hospital where he died. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.

Seaford Road was closed for an extended time while the scene was investigated and cleared.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Corporal Grade One K. Marvel at (302) 232-3435. 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 have arrested 45-year-old Tony Hammond of Wilmington, Delaware for a robbery in Newark.

On October 4, 2025, at approximately 11:50 p.m. troopers responded to Royal Farms, located at 457 Stanton Christiana Road in Newark, for a report of a robbery. When troopers arrived, they learned that the suspect approached a woman while she was sitting outside of the business, assaulted her, stole her property, and ran away. Further investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as Tony Hammond, was known by the victim. Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest.

On October 7, 2025, Hammond was arrested and taken to Troop 2, where he was charged with the crime listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on his own recognizance.

• Robbery 2nd Degree (Felony)

Delaware State Police have arrested 27-year-old Jaquan Johnson of Selbyville, Delaware, for multiple felony drug charges following a pursuit and search warrant.

On October 1, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., members of the Sussex County Governor’s Task Force and Sussex County Drug Unit were conducting a drug investigation of Jaquan Johnson for the distribution of illegal narcotics at a property on the 34000 block of Bennett Road in Selbyville. During the investigation, detectives saw a white Ford Transit van, driven by Johnson, arrive, then leave the residence and travel southbound on Bennett Road near Roxana Road in Selbyville. A computer check showed that Johnson was wanted for arrest in Maryland and that he, and the van, were recently involved in a pursuit with police in Worcester County. Detectives pulled the van over on Bethany Road and spoke to Johnson. When he was told to exit the van, he refused and sped away.

During the pursuit, the van drove in a reckless manner and at a high rate of speed on several area streets and roads. Detectives successfully deployed stop sticks, but the van failed to stop and later collided with a Chevrolet Equinox at Lighthouse Road and South Main Street in Selbyville. After the collision, the van continued to flee, coming to a stop on Main Street in Frankford. Detectives saw Johnson throw a potato chip bag when he ran from the van, and he was ultimately taken into custody after a taser deployment. Detectives recovered the potato chip bag and found that it contained approximately 60.07 grams of cocaine, approximately 10.89 grams of crack cocaine, along with 85 bars and 33 partial bars of Xanax. During a search of the van, detectives found drug paraphernalia.

The driver of the Equinox involved in the collision was not injured.

After the pursuit, detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at the Bennett Road property. During the search warrant, detectives found the following items:

• Unused wax paper bags
• Inkpad and stamp
• Small rubber bands
• Cutting agents
• Digital scales
• Blender jar with cocaine residue
• Pyrex dishes
• Clear Ziploc style baggies
• 20 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition

Johnson was arrested and taken to Troop 4, where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $127,617 secured bond.

• Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony)
• Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 (Felony) – 2 counts
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 2 (Felony) – 2 counts
• Unlawful to Knowingly Operate or Attempt to Operate a Clandestine Laboratory (Felony)
• Maintaining a Drug Property (Felony)
• Make, Distribute, or Possess any Item Designed to be Used in Counterfeiting any Drug/Container/Labeling (Felony)
• Disregarding a Police Officer’s Signal (Felony)
• Resisting Arrest
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – 2 counts
• Numerous Traffic Violations

Delaware State Police have arrested 28-year-old Daquan Nocks and 31-year-old Maleek Gamble, both from Dover, Delaware, for burglary and related charges early Monday morning.

On October 6, 2025, at approximately 4:00 a.m., troopers responded to the 400 block of Fork Branch Road in Dover, for a report two black male suspects attempting to open the front door of a residence. When troopers arrived, they checked the property and found the suspects, identified as Daquan Nocks and Maleek Gamble, who were standing outside the home’s garage. The preliminary investigation revealed that Nocks provided false information to the troopers while in possession of the homeowner’s property that was taken from an unlocked vehicle inside the garage.

Nocks was arrested and taken  to Troop 9 where he was charged with the below offenses, arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 7, and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $4,000 secured bond.

• Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony)
• Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
• Theft Under $1500
• Making a False Statement

Gamble was arrested and taken to Troop 9, where he was charged with the below offenses, arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 7, and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $3,500 secured bond.

• Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony)
• Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
• Theft Under $1500

Delaware State Police have identified 20-year-old Tamia Gordon of Magnolia, Delaware, as the woman who died in the fatal shooting last week in Magnolia.

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 three-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on Sunday afternoon in Georgetown.

On October 5, 2025, at approximately 3:00 p.m., a Hyundai Sonata was stopped at the stop sign on West Robbins Road northbound, at Redden Road. At the same time, a Volkswagen Tiguan was traveling westbound, and a Toyota Corolla was traveling eastbound on Redden Road, both approaching West Robbins Road. The preliminary investigation revealed that the Hyundai failed to remain stopped, entered the intersection, and struck the Volkswagen. As a result, the Volkswagen overturned multiple times and rolled over onto the Toyota.

The driver of the Toyota, an unidentified man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The passenger in the Toyota, a 31-year-old man from Georgetown, Delaware, was also pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 70-year-old man, and a passenger, a 59-year-old woman, both from Ocean View, Delaware, were taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Hyundai, a 57-year-old woman from Bloomfield, New Jersey, was not injured.

The roadway was closed for approximately 3.5 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.

The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Master Corporal K. Argo at (302) 703-3264. 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 that occurred in Laurel early Sunday morning.

On October 5, 2025, at approximately 2:00 a.m., troopers were called for a report of a shooting that occurred on US-13 northbound between Delmar and Laurel. The preliminary investigation revealed a blue Toyota Camry was traveling northbound in the left lane of US-13. At the same time, a silver Chrysler four-door sedan was traveling in the right lane, next to the Toyota. While both vehicles were in motion, the suspect, a black male, from the Chrysler fired several rounds toward the passenger side of the Toyota and fled northbound on US-13 near Scarborough Lane. The Toyota was hit by the gunfire.

There are no reported injuries. Surveillance videos and images are not available.

Delaware State Police Troop 4 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 L. Coleman by calling 302-752-3813. 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, through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI), announces the launch of the Permit to Purchase Firearms Instructor Portal, which provides firearms instructors with resources to confirm their credentials and ensure that their course content meets the statutory requirements of the law. Instructors may seek pre-approval (optional) through the portal, but pre-approval is not required. SBI will confirm course compliance when an applicant submits a permit application. This process applies only to instructors who train individuals seeking a permit to purchase.

Process for Instructors (Pre-approval Optional)

To participate and appear on the public list of approved providers, instructors may complete the optional pre-approval step below, or proceed without pre-approval and have course compliance confirmed during applicant review:

1. Review the Permit to Purchase Training Course Guidelines
2. Complete the instructor application in the Firearms Instructor Portal
3. Submit all required documents with the application, including:
   • A valid firearms instructor certificate showing expiration date, issued by a nationally recognized organization or law enforcement agency that meets Delaware POST standards
   • Instructor identification card
   • Training course syllabus

Click Here for the Permit to Purchase Instructor Portal

Once instructors meet the statutory requirements, they will be included on the Permit to Purchase website’s public list of approved trainers.

Training Course Requirements

As required by Delaware law, courses must cover topics including safe handling and storage of firearms and ammunition, shooting fundamentals with live fire (minimum 100 rounds), applicable federal and state law (including Delaware law on the use of deadly force), conflict avoidance and management, and suicide prevention. The complete statutory list is available here: Delaware Code Online.

After successfully completing the firearms training safety course, instructors must provide a signed Firearms Training Course Certification Form. The applicant will submit this form with the permit to purchase application.

Contact Information for Instructors:

• Email: DSP_P2P_Instructor@delaware.gov
• Phone: (302) 741-2800

Effective November 16, 2025, hours will be Monday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Exemptions to the firearms training requirement are outlined in Delaware law and can be found here: Delaware Code Online.