One Killed, One Injured in Shooting Near DSU Campus Following Homecoming Events

DOVER, Del. – The Dover Police Department (DPD) is investigating a shooting near Delaware State University’s (DSU) campus that killed one and injured another on Saturday night.

Police say that, prior to the shooting, thousands of students and visitors attending DSU’s homecoming events were required to 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 9:19 p.m., officers attempting to control crowds in a nearby parking lot heard several gunshots and observed multiple people running from the Dover Commons shopping center parking lot, located in the 1200 Block of North DuPont Highway. 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 22-year-old Nasir Cox, of Philadelphia, who was also suffering from gunshot wounds.

Because the Route 13 corridor between DSU and several nearby shopping centers was completely gridlocked with vehicle and pedestrian traffic, officers decided to immediately transport both victims to Bayhealth Kent Campus in their police vehicles. The 21-year-old male remains hospitalized and is stable at this time. Unfortunately, Cox succumbed to his injuries.

In a message shared with the DSU community, President Dr. Tony Allen said that University Police were cooperating fully with the shooting investigation, despite it occurring off-campus.

“Neither victim is enrolled at Delaware State University and no student, faculty member, staff member, or visiting alumni were among those injured,” the message read. “Our officers issued a campus alert Saturday night and remained in close coordination with Dover Police throughout.”

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