WILMINGTON, Del. — On Saturday afternoon, in what neighbors say unfolded in the blink of an eye, gunshots echoed through Stroud Street. By the time officers arrived, a man lay bleeding — and despite frantic efforts by medics, he didn’t make it. The victim, now confirmed as 33-year-old Desmond Scott, has left behind questions nobody seems ready to answer.
The Wilmington Police Department says they were dispatched just after 2:36 p.m. to the unit block of Stroud Street after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, officers found Scott suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
By Monday morning, police confirmed Scott’s identity and said his family has already been notified. In their public statement, authorities also noted that grief counseling services have been offered to his loved ones. The neighborhood remained reeling, scrambling for answers amid growing sadness.
In the immediate aftermath, the unit block of Stroud Street became a crime scene. Detectives paced sidewalks, marking shell casings, inspecting cars and buildings, and interviewing anyone who might have seen something. Neighbors say they heard bursts of gunfire, then screams, followed by the rapid exit of vehicles. “It all happened so fast,” one person recalled. “One moment quiet, the next, chaos.”
So far, no arrests have been made, and detectives say they have no confirmed suspect or motive. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from homes and businesses and continuing to canvass the area for new leads. They have not yet confirmed whether the attack was targeted or random. The police are urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Over recent months, Wilmington has seen repeated episodes of gun violence, testing the limits of community trust and policing strategies. Local leaders have long called for deeper cooperation between residents and law enforcement—insisting that safety cannot be imposed, but built together. In that spirit, city groups have begun planning a vigil in Scott’s memory. “We can’t keep losing young lives like this,” one advocate said, bluntly. “We have to come together now.”
Police are asking anyone with relevant information to contact the Wilmington PD at (302) 576-3654 or to submit an anonymous tip through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via delawarecrimestoppers.com. Every detail could be the clue that brings justice for Desmond Scott—and some measure of peace to a city left mourning.