Category: Dover Police News

Incident Number:  50-26-37001

Date/Time: Friday, October 16th 2026 at approximately 6:39 P.M.

Location: 100 Block of Mitscher Road, 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 shooting that damaged two homes on Mitscher Road Friday evening.

Officers responded to the 100 Block of Mitscher Road at approximately 6:39 p.m. for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers discovered that two residences had been struck by gunfire. One home was occupied by two adults, and no injuries were reported. The second home was unoccupied at the time of the shooting. Officer also located multiple spent shell casings from a nearby alley.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111. Tips may also be submitted through Delaware Crime Stoppers or the Dover Police Department’s online contact form. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Date/Time: Tuesday, October 14th, 2026

Location: Areas of South New Street, Governors Avenue, and Reed 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, with assistance from Delaware Probation and Parole, Delaware State Police, the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service, arrested 14 people during an operation in downtown Dover on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

The operation focused on the areas of South New Street and Reed Street, and South Governors Avenue and Reed Street. It was conducted in response to ongoing criminal activity and quality-of-life concerns that have continued despite regular policing efforts.

During the investigation, detectives obtained six search warrants for the grounds surrounding properties on South Governors Avenue. Detectives also observed drug dealing and trespassing at 46 South New Street. All arrests were made without incident.

The 14 adult individuals were charged as follows:

• Two individuals: Drug Dealing and Conspiracy.
• Eight individuals: Trespassing.
• Two individuals: Trespassing, Drug Dealing, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
• Two individuals: Trespassing and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Bail information was pending at the time of this release.

“Our residents and business owners deserve neighborhoods where they feel safe and where ongoing criminal activity does not interfere with their daily lives,” said the Dover Police Chief, Thomas Johnson Jr. “I thank Delaware Probation and Parole, Delaware State Police, the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance and continued partnership. Their support strengthens our ability to address persistent problems and respond to the concerns of our community.”

The Dover Police Department will continue working with its partners, residents, and business owners to address criminal activity and quality-of-life concerns in the downtown area.

Incident Number: 50-26-36238

Date/Time: Saturday, October 10th, 2026 at approximately 9:19 P.M.

Location: Parking Lot of Dover Commons Shopping Center,
1200 Block of 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 shooting that left one male deceased and another injured Saturday night in the Dover Commons shopping center parking lot located in the 1200 Block of North DuPont Highway.

Prior to the shooting, thousands of students and visitors attending Delaware State University’s homecoming events were required to end events and leave campus at approximately 6:00 P.M., resulting in large crowds gathering at several nearby shopping centers and other locations. At the time of the shooting, more than 50 officers from the Dover, New Castle County, Wilmington, Smyrna, and Camden police departments, along with Delaware State Police, were already working in the area to manage crowds and respond to large disturbances that included multiple fights, calls for disorderly behavior, and for shots fired at multiple locations.

At approximately 9:19 p.m., officers attempting to control crowds in a nearby parking lot heard several gunshots and observed people running from the Dover Commons shopping center parking lot. Officers responded and located a 21-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. While rendering aid, officers located a second victim, later identified as Nasir Cox, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was also suffering from gunshot wounds.

The Route 13 corridor between Delaware State University and several nearby shopping centers was completely gridlocked with vehicle and pedestrian traffic, which would have delayed emergency medical response. To give both victims the best chance of survival, officers immediately transported them to Bayhealth Kent Campus in police vehicles. Cox later died from his injuries. The 21-year-old male remains hospitalized and is stable at this time.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information or photographs or videos from the area around the time of the shooting is asked to contact the Dover Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 302-736-7111. Tips may also be submitted through Delaware Crime Stoppers or the Dover Police Department’s online contact form. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

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Incident Number:  50-26-35407

Date/Time: Sunday, October 4, 2026, at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Location: Super Cichlids, 1055 Barl Ct. 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 burglary at Super Cichlids that occurred Sunday evening.

Officers responded to the business on Monday, October 5, at approximately 11:51 a.m. after damage to the front door was discovered. The investigation determined that a suspect broke the glass door and entered the business at approximately 8:00 p.m. the previous evening. The suspect remained inside for approximately 40 minutes before leaving.

While no items were initially reported missing, store representatives notified police on October 9 that inventory was missing, including an axolotl, a type of aquatic salamander pet.

The suspect was described as a young African-American male. The investigation remains ongoing, and the suspect has not been identified.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111.

Incident Number:  50-26-34253

Date/Time: Saturday, September 26th, 2026 at approximately 1:45 P.M.

Location: Unit Block of South Governors, 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 shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon on the Unit Block of South Governors Avenue. At approximately 1:45 p.m., officers responded to the area for a report of shots fired. The investigation determined that two male suspects exited a silver sedan and fired several rounds toward two individuals standing on a porch. As a result of the incident, a residence was struck by gunfire. A 59-year-old Dover man was sleeping inside near where the bullet struck. Both suspects fled on foot. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111.

Incident Number:  50-26-33315

Date/Time: Friday, September 18th, 2026 at 10:17 P.M.

Location: Area of Miller Road and Bay Road, Dover, DE

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

Narrative: The Dover Police Department arrested four men and recovered two loaded handguns during a traffic stop Friday evening. The suspects were identified as Daniel Michel, 21, of Dover; Neshawn Gibbs, 19, of Magnolia; Taron Marsh, 22, of Dover; and Nasir Peace, 19, of Dover.

The investigation began when an officer observed a silver Chrysler Town and Country commit a traffic violation while traveling eastbound on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle stopped near Miller Road and Bay Road.

While the occupants were exiting the vehicle, officers observed a handgun on the floor behind a rear passenger seat. Officers secured the firearm, a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a second loaded handgun, a Springfield .40-caliber pistol, beneath the driver’s seat.

All four occupants were taken into custody and were committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on the following charges and cash bonds:

Daniel Michel, 21, of Dover: $25,150 cash bond

• Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (4 counts)
• Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
• Driving While Suspended or Revoked
• Failure to Signal
• Local Fugitive

Neshawn Gibbs, 19, of Magnolia: $6,000 cash bond

• Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2 counts)

Taron Marsh, 22, of Dover: $24,000 cash bond

• Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2 counts)
• Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited — Adjudicated Delinquent
• Criminal Impersonation
• Local Fugitive

Nasir Peace, 19, of Dover: $10,000 cash bond

Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2 counts)