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Newark officials to update public on Halloween mass shooting near University of Delaware as investigation continues
Newark Police and the Delaware Attorney General's Office will hold a Monday afternoon press conference on the Halloween night shooting that injured seven people near the University of Delaware, including a student. No one has yet been charged with firing the shots.
NEWARK, Del. â City and state officials are set to brief the public Monday afternoon on the investigation into a Halloween night mass shooting near the University of Delaware that left seven people injured, including a university student.
The press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the City of Newark Municipal Building. Newark Police and the Delaware Attorney General's Office are expected to provide updates on the case, which has shaken the college town and prompted the university to cancel classes on Monday.
The gunfire broke out around 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, along Main Street, a busy commercial strip that runs through the heart of Newark and borders the university campus. According to police, the victims include a 19-year-old man shot in the back, a 20-year-old man who suffered a collapsed lung, a 21-year-old woman with a graze wound to the leg, a 15-year-old boy shot in the back, another 15-year-old boy shot in the foot, and a 16-year-old boy who suffered multiple gunshot wounds. A few days later, police confirmed a seventh victim, a 17-year-old boy, had also been grazed by a bullet.
All seven victims survived, though one of the 15-year-old boys was listed in critical condition. University of Delaware officials confirmed that one of the injured was a student at the school.
The 16-year-old boy who was shot has since been charged with possession of a firearm by a person under 21, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, and breach of release, according to police. But no one has been charged with actually opening fire at the scene, a fact that has left community members anxious for answers as the investigation stretches into a second week.
Newark Police are continuing to appeal to the public for help, asking anyone with information, photos, or videos of the shooting to come forward. Tips can be submitted through an online portal or directed to Detective Paige Klein at 302-366-7100 ext. 3480 or pklein@newark.de.us.
The shooting has renewed concerns about gun violence in a community that has long prided itself on its small-town character. Main Street, lined with restaurants, shops, and bars, is typically crowded with students and residents on weekend nights, and the Halloween celebration had drawn large numbers to the area before gunfire erupted.
Monday's briefing is expected to address the status of the investigation and any additional steps authorities are taking to ensure public safety. The university's decision to cancel classes underscores the disruption the violence has caused on campus, where students and staff are still processing the events of Halloween night.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates from the press conference.