UPDATE: Name released of woman arrested for DSU student’s murder

The New Castle County Police announced the first-degree murder arrest of Cheryl Jennings, 46, of New Castle, in the July 9 shooting death of 19-year-old Malcolm Evans. 

Continuing an extensive investigation, a team from the Criminal Investigation Unit reportedly arrested Jennings at her home in the first block of Terry Court on Wednesday.  

“Malcolm Evans was truly an innocent victim, a young man who lived with his parents and brother, went to college, worked a job and dreamed of becoming a doctor,” said County Executive Thomas P. Gordon. “His death is a loss to all of us and we continue to share his family’s grief.”

“This arrest by no means marks the end of our involvement or the end of this investigation,” Colonel E. M. Setting, chief of police said.  “It does, however, provide some much needed closure to the family and community. In a case like this, where there is no known association between the victim and defendant, the extraordinary efforts of our detectives as well as help from the public must be recognized and commended.”

According to the report, police began to get tips about the fatal shooting in late July after Gordon doubled the reward up to $40,000 for information leading to an arrest and/or conviction, Setting said, adding that subsequent tips proved vital to the investigation.

Officials say Jennings was charged with first-degree murder, firearm possession during commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited due to past felony conviction. She was apparently arraigned and committed without bail to the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution near New Castle.