Dover Police arrest man behind string of “Ambush Style” shootings
DOVER, Del. – Wednesday morning, Dover Police announced the arrest of a suspect in a homicide, as well as two related shootings.
20-year-old Jaquan Fletcher is accused of the murder of 42-year-old Frederick Tolson on December 14th. Fletcher is also charged with the attempted murder of three others in separate incidents throughout the month of December.
“This combined effort took a violent individual off the streets, and certainly saved the Dover area from additional shootings that all too often result in serious injury or death,” said Dover Police Department’s Corporal Ryan Schmid.
The first incident took place just after 5:30 a.m. on December 2nd at the Wawa located at 1450 Forrest Avenue. Officers made contact with a 45-year-old man who had reportedly been shot while walking in the parking lot of the business.
The victim told police he did not see the person that shot him and didn’t know the exact source of the gunfire. Detectives later determined that the suspect was hiding around bushes on the property. The victim in this incident was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police say there is no evidence of any contact between the victim and any other individuals before the incident.
The second incident took place just after 2 a.m. on December 8th, when officers responded to Village Drive and Quail Hollow Drive for a shooting. Officers met with a 25-year-old man who had been shot in the upper body while walking in the area.
It was determined that the suspect shot at the victim from a concealed position and at a significant distance. This victim was also taken to a local hospital for treatment. There was no evidence of any dispute or disturbance prior to the attack.
The third incident was the December 14th homicide, which took place at around 8:45 p.m. in the unit block of Ann Avenue. Tolson was fatally shot in this incident and a second victim, a 59-year-old man, was injured.
Tolson’s family was present at the Dover Police station as the charges were announced by the Office of the Delaware Attorney General’s office. Family members say they are grateful for the swift arrest and announcement of charges.
“It’s disgusting. I’m glad that they caught him, something worse could have happened,” said Frederick’s daughter Jazmine Tolson. “I’m glad that they did what they needed to do to handle this as quickly as possible. It could have been a lot worse, and it sucks that it has to be us.”
Detectives reviewed surveillance video, extensive interviews of witnesses and victims, and comprehensive crime scene examinations. Within 24 hours of the third shooting, police identified Fletcher as the suspect responsible for all three shootings.
It was further discovered that Fletcher was already wanted by Delaware State Police on unrelated charges. During the execution of a search warrant at his home on December 15th, Fletcher was taken into custody. Investigators say each shooting incident fit a similar pattern, helping to lead police to the suspect.
“It was determined that the victim did not see the person who shot him and did not know the exact source of the gunfire. Detectives later determined that the suspect was hiding near or behind bushes on the property,” said Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson.
Chief Johnson said it quickly became clear that the events were connected. “While you hate to see something like that, when you have connected events, that actually helps accelerate an investigation,” he said. E
Evidence recovered from the scenes proved that the same weapon had been used during all three shootings, according to Chief Johnson.
Fletcher has been charged with first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and six counts of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. He remains at Sussex Correctional Institution on a $1.2 million cash bail.
Meanwhile, Tolson’s family says they want people to remember the kind of man he was, and hope no other family has to go through their ordeal. “He showed up, he was supportive, he was always with us, no matter what,” Jazmine said.
Fletcher is now set to face a Grand Jury. Dover Police are continuing their investigation into how Fletcher was able to obtain a firearm, and if he acted alone.
