Halloween shooting leaves 6 injured in downtown Newark

Why Should Delaware Care?
Delaware has rarely seen mass shooting scenes like the one that occurred Saturday — injuring a half dozen people in a crowded public place.

The Halloween evening festivities in downtown Newark were shaken Saturday night by a shooting near Main Street that left six people injured and hundreds of young revelers fleeing through city streets, police reported.

It is the worst mass shooting in Delaware in seven years by count of victims, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive. 

According to videos of the incident circulating on social media, multiple shots can be heard being fired. That sent hundreds of bystanders fleeing throughout Newark, leading to at least one person being struck by an oncoming car. That individual was able to walk away, according to the video.

As of Sunday morning, no suspects have been arrested or publicly identified by the Newark Police Department, which cordoned off the scene near the intersection of East Main and Choate streets. The shooting reportedly occurred on the sidewalk across the street from the popular Klondike Kate’s bar and restaurant.

The incident took place about 11:13 p.m. Saturday – a time when thousands of costumed University of Delaware students and locals were on city streets in the popular bar district for the holiday.

In an interview with NBC10, witness Landon Singleton recounted seeing victims lying in the driveway of Trader’s Alley and ran to provide assistance. He found three victims with gunshot wounds to their leg, back and stomach, respectively.

Seeing that one of the victims did not have anyone rendering aid, he removed his shirt, balled it up and pressed it against his wound to try to stem the bleeding.

“He squeezed my hand, kind of like his last hope,” Singleton said.

All of the victims were taken to area hospitals, where their conditions were not known as of Sunday morning, according to police.

The Newark Police Department is asking the public for assistance in identifying the suspects or the circumstances that precipitated the shooting, and are asking anyone who has video footage or photos related to the incident to submit it through a secure link.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Paige Klein at 302-366-7100 ext. 3480 or by email at [email protected].

While the incident occurred near Klondike Kate’s, the ownership group of the establishment wrote in a Saturday night social media post that it did not occur on its property.

“The safety of our guests, employees, and the Newark community has always been, and will continue to be, our highest priority,” wrote the Martuscelli Restaurant Group. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by tonight’s incident, and we thank the Newark Police Department and first responders for their efforts.”

The incident has unnerved a college city that rarely sees such violence – particularly in the crowded Main Street corridor. 

Intentional shootings in Newark, which has its own city police department along with the University of Delaware Police Department, are exceedingly rare. One of the last such incidents occurred in 2021.

Delaware also saw a second shooting on Halloween night in the Sussex County, where at least one person was injured near the intersection of Old State Road and Main Street in Ellendale, according to Delaware State Police.

That incident occurred at around 10 p.m. Saturday, but few details were available on Sunday morning.

Officials react to violence

On Sunday morning, Gov. Matt Meyer condemned the acts of violence during a busy holiday in the state.

“No family should have to receive the call that someone they love has been shot. Today, people in Newark and Ellendale are facing pain and fear that no one should have to endure. My heart is with those injured, their loved ones and every Delawarean who has been impacted by these tragedies. I condemn these senseless acts of violence, and gun violence in all its forms,” he said in a statement. ” Every Delawarean deserves to feel safe in their community. This is not normal. We must never accept gun violence as a part of life in Delaware.”

Congresswoman Sarah McBride said Sunday morning that she was “heartbroken to wake up to the news of last night’s shooting.”

“What should have been a night of Halloween fun and celebration was instead shattered by senseless gun violence. My heart is with the six people who were injured, their loved ones, and the entire Newark community,” she said. “Those responsible for this violence must be held accountable.”

Reps. Mara Gorman and Cyndie Romer, whose districts include the University of Delaware campus, added in a statement that “Main Street is the heart of our community, and no one should ever have to fear for their safety while walking through our town.”

“In our time serving our community, reducing gun violence and fighting for common-sense public safety measures has always been a deeply personal commitment. We can never accept gun violence as normal in our hometown,” they said.

Before being elected, Gorman was a lead volunteer with the Delaware chapter of Moms Demand Action, a gun safety organization. 

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