Family mourns loss of teen basketball star to gun violence

LAUREL, Del. – Just a few short days ago the family of Corey Mumford was busy, talking about the 18-year old’s college plans, and preparing for prom. Now everything has changed, for them and for Corey’s Laurel family.

“I am so heartbroken, my heart is so heavy. More so, I am so angry, because this was senseless,” Corey’s mother Tesha Horsey said. “We should be planning his prom, and graduation, and college move in day, and today I’m planning a funeral for my son.”

A family, a community, devastated following the death of rising basketball star Corey Mumford.

A sudden, and tragic loss of life of a figure who was well known and loved in the Sussex County community.

His father, Corey, called his son “a pillar in this community.”

His mother, father, an uncle, and a cousin, standing in the backyard taking time to tell stories. Laughing about his sneaker collection, and talking about his dreams of coaching.

“To see him in the community, or with his little niece who had him wrapped around his finger, he was just a big teddy bear. But to get on the basketball court he was a grizzly bear,” Tesha said of her son.

The six-foot-six senior forward was coming off of a stellar year where he was named first-team all-Henlopen South. He also took home honorable mention All-State, and saving his best performance for one of the biggest stages – the annual Blue-Gold All-Star Game, where he was named the game’s MVP.

“Honestly, that was the best game I’ve ever seen Corey play,” Tesha recalled. “He took it up another level.”

That performance came just weeks before his life was taken at a Laurel apartment complex in broad daylight.

“He texts me a pair of sneakers that he wanted to order, he loved sneakers. I responded, we joked back and forth about it, and then I get a phone call that my son has been shot,” Tesha said while holding back tears.

The shooting death of Corey Mumford has left a profound impact on the Laurel community. And now there is a sense of urgency that now is the time to address the gun violence and make sure that Corey’s death was not in vein.

The Delaware State police Homicide unit is conducting the investigation

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective Bluto by calling 302-741-2859.

Tips can also be sent to Delaware State Police via private Facebook messaging.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.