A Dover shooting in the parking lot of the Dover Commons shopping center late Saturday night left a 22-year-old Philadelphia man dead and a 21-year-old man hospitalized, hours after Delaware State University closed out a week of homecoming events on the other side of the highway. Dover police said no arrests have been made as of Monday, and detectives are asking witnesses with photos or video to come forward.
TL;DR: Gunfire broke out around 9:19 p.m. Saturday in the Dover Commons parking lot on North DuPont Highway, across Route 13 from the Delaware State University campus. Twenty-two-year-old Nasir Cox of Philadelphia was shot and later died at Bayhealth Kent Campus, while a 21-year-old man remained hospitalized in stable condition with an upper-body gunshot wound. Neither victim is a DSU student, and no students, faculty, staff, or visiting alumni were injured. No arrests have been made, and the investigation continues.
What happened Saturday night
According to the Dover Police Department, officers were already working the area when the shooting happened. Thousands of students and visitors had been in Dover for Delaware State’s homecoming weekend, and campus events were required to end around 6 p.m. Saturday. Large crowds then gathered at nearby shopping centers, including Dover Commons in the 1200 block of North DuPont Highway.
More than 50 officers from the Dover, New Castle County, Wilmington, Smyrna, and Camden police departments, along with Delaware State Police, were in the area managing crowds and answering calls about fights, disorderly behavior, and shots fired at several locations. Around 9:19 p.m., officers working a nearby parking lot heard several gunshots and saw people running from the Dover Commons lot.
Responding officers found a 21-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. While rendering aid, they located a second victim — later identified as Nasir Cox, 22, of Philadelphia — also suffering from gunshot wounds.
Gridlocked roads forced police to transport the victims
Police said the roads around campus and the nearby shopping centers were “completely gridlocked,” so officers loaded both victims into police vehicles to give them “the best chance of survival” rather than wait for ambulances to fight through traffic. Cox died from his injuries at Bayhealth Kent Campus. The 21-year-old man remains hospitalized and is in stable condition.
Neither victim was a DSU student
The shooting happened off campus, and DSU President Tony Allen addressed the university community on Monday, saying, “Our prayers are with both families today.” He confirmed that neither victim is enrolled at Delaware State University and that no student, faculty member, staff member, or visiting alumni were among those injured.
“Our officers issued a campus alert Saturday night and remained in close coordination with Dover Police throughout,” Allen wrote, urging anyone with information to contact Dover police.
As reported by the Delaware News Journal, a Dover police Facebook update posted Sunday morning drew more than 500 comments, with several posters pushing back on any connection between the violence and the university’s homecoming, noting the shooting happened off campus.
How the public can help
Dover police Lt. Mark Hoffman said Monday that several witnesses have already come forward since late Saturday night. “We need the public’s help on this,” Hoffman said. Anyone with information, photos, or video from the area around the time of the shooting is asked to contact the Dover Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 302-736-7111, or to contact Delaware Crime Stoppers.
The shooting is the first fatal shooting connected to the university community since 2024, when 18-year-old Camay De Silva was shot and killed near a residential hall during a visit to campus. Two Dover men were arrested in connection with her death the following month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Dover shooting happen?
The shooting happened Saturday, October 10, around 9:19 p.m. in the parking lot of the Dover Commons shopping center, in the 1200 block of North DuPont Highway in Dover, Delaware — across Route 13 from the Delaware State University campus.
Who was killed in the shooting?
Police identified the victim who died as Nasir Cox, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was transported by police vehicle to Bayhealth Kent Campus, where he died from his gunshot injuries.
Who is the second victim?
The second victim is a 21-year-old man whose identity has not been released. He suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body and remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Were any Delaware State University students hurt?
No. DSU President Tony Allen confirmed that neither victim is enrolled at the university and that no students, faculty, staff members, or visiting alumni were among those injured. A campus alert was issued Saturday night.
Have police made any arrests?
No. Dover police Lt. Mark Hoffman said Monday that no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. Several witnesses have already come forward.
Why were so many police officers already in the area?
More than 50 officers from Dover, New Castle County, Wilmington, Smyrna, and Camden police departments, plus Delaware State Police, were managing crowds after thousands of students and visitors were required to leave campus around 6 p.m. following homecoming events. Officers were handling fights, disorderly behavior, and other shots-fired reports when the Dover Commons shooting occurred.
How can I submit information about the shooting?
Contact the Dover Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 302-736-7111, or submit a tip through Delaware Crime Stoppers. Police are especially interested in photos or video from the area around the time of the shooting.
Has there been violence near DSU before?
In May 2026, a 19-year-old nonstudent was shot near the school’s Conrad Hall cafeteria; his injuries were not life-threatening. The last fatal shooting involving the university community was in 2024, when 18-year-old Camay De Silva was killed near a residential hall; two Dover men were arrested the next month.
