Dover Police Investigating Homicide 9-5-2026
Incident Number: 50-26-31360
Date/Time: Friday, September 5th, 2026 at approximately 9:47 P.M.
Location: CAVA Restaurant, 1037 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE
Contact: Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Lieutenant Mark Hoffman Email: Mark.Hoffman@cj.state.de.us
Narrative:
The Dover Police Department is investigating a homicide as a result of a shooting that occurred Friday night in the parking lot of CAVA, located at 1037 North DuPont Highway.
At approximately 9:47 p.m. on September 4, 2026, Dover Police received multiple calls reporting shots fired in the area. Responding officers located 18-year-old Foster Trader of Dover on the sidewalk in front of CAVA suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers immediately began providing emergency medical assistance to Trader while emergency medical personnel responded to the scene. Despite these lifesaving efforts, Trader was pronounced deceased at approximately 10:04 p.m.
Dover Police secured the area and began the initial investigation while detectives and additional department personnel responded to process the scene and gather evidence. Investigators recovered multiple spent shell casings from the scene. Investigators are also reviewing available other available evidence as part of their ongoing investigation.
At this time, no suspect description or suspect vehicle information is available for release, and no arrests have been made. The Dover Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including any events that led to the incident.
Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting, observed suspicious activity in the area around the time of the incident, or may have surveillance or other information that could assist investigators is asked to contact the Dover Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit.
The investigation remains active. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Goad at (302) 736-7143. Tips can also be submitted at https://doverpolice.org/contact-us/. Anonymous tips may also be provided to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or online at delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.