Two Arrested in Friday Afternoon Shooting 9-8-26

Incident Number:  50-26-31312

Date/Time: Friday, September 4th, 2026 at approximately 2:20 P.M.

Location: 900 Block of West North Street, Dover, DE

Contact:   Dover Police Department Public Information Officer
Lieutenant Mark Hoffman   Email: Mark.Hoffman@cj.state.de.us

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department has arrested two Dover men following a shooting that left a 17-year-old male injured Friday afternoon.

At approximately 2:20 p.m., officers responded to the area of West North Street and Simon Circle after receiving a report of a shooting. Shortly afterward, officers were notified that the victim had arrived at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus, by private vehicle with a gunshot wound to his upper left arm. His injury was determined to be non-life-threatening.

The ensuing investigation determined that two suspects produced handguns equipped with large-capacity magazines and fired multiple rounds toward the victim while he was in the area of Simon Circle. In addition to striking the victim, gunfire struck the windshield of an unoccupied work van parked nearby.

During a search of the area, officers located numerous 9mm cartridge casings. Officers later located the two suspects in the area of Bertrand Drive and Lincoln Street. One suspect was taken into custody without incident. The second suspect ran from officers but was apprehended following a brief foot pursuit.

Officers recovered two loaded 9mm handguns from the front porch of a residence on Lincoln Street. One firearm had an obliterated serial number and was loaded with an extended magazine containing 24 rounds. The second firearm was loaded with a drum magazine containing 47 rounds and had been reported stolen to the Dover Police Department in 2023.

Giovanny Candelario, 18, of Dover, was charged with:

• Assault First Degree
• Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Large-Capacity Magazine During the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited
• Receiving a Stolen Firearm
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Criminal Mischief Under $1,000
• Resisting Arrest

Candelario was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of a $206,100 cash bond.

Benjamin George, 18, of Dover, was charged with:

• Assault First Degree
• Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Large-Capacity Magazine During the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony
• Criminal Mischief Under $1,000

George was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of a $198,000 cash bond.

Mugshots of the suspects were not available at the time of release.