Dover police have announced that two suspects have been charged in connection with a deadly double shooting that erupted in a shopping center parking lot after Delaware State University’s homecoming events earlier this month. A 22-year-old Dover man was arrested on Oct. 16, and a 17-year-old boy was arrested on Oct. 21 at a home in Snow Hill, Maryland, after a multi-agency manhunt. Both are accused of killing 22-year-old Nasir Cox of Philadelphia and wounding a 21-year-old man in the Dover Commons shopping center parking lot on Oct. 10.
TL;DR: Dover, Delaware, police have charged two suspects — a 22-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy — with first-degree murder in the Oct. 10 shooting that killed Nasir Cox and wounded another man following Delaware State University’s homecoming events. The older suspect was arrested Oct. 16 in Dover with help from the U.S. Marshals Service; the teen was arrested Oct. 21 in Maryland and remains there pending extradition to Delaware.
A chaotic night after homecoming
The shooting happened on the night of Saturday, Oct. 10, in the parking lot of the Dover Commons shopping center in the 1200 block of North DuPont Highway. Thousands of students and visitors attending Delaware State University’s homecoming events had been ordered to leave campus at approximately 6 p.m., sending large crowds into nearby shopping centers and other gathering spots.
According to a press release from the Dover Police Department, more than 50 officers from Dover, New Castle County, Wilmington, Smyrna, and Camden police departments — along with Delaware State Police — were already working the area that night to manage the crowds and respond to large disturbances that included multiple fights, calls about disorderly behavior, and reports of shots fired at several locations. Amid that chaos, gunfire broke out in the Dover Commons lot. When it was over, 22-year-old Nasir Cox of Philadelphia was dead and a 21-year-old man had been wounded.
The investigation and the two arrests
Investigators identified a 22-year-old Dover man as one of the shooters, police said in a statement issued around 9:20 p.m. on Oct. 21. The man was arrested on Oct. 16 after Dover police, Delaware State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service went to a home in the 500 block of Crawford Avenue, where he was taken into custody without incident after emerging from the residence.
When officers searched that home, they recovered a 9mm handgun, ammunition, and clothing and accessories that police said matched items worn during the shooting, according to Delaware News Journal reporting.
The investigation then turned to the 17-year-old, whom police believed might be in Sussex County or on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He was found on Oct. 21 at a home in Snow Hill, Maryland, and arrested without incident. The teen remains in Maryland pending extradition to Delaware.
The charges
Both suspects face the same serious charges, according to the Dover Police Department:
- First-degree murder
- Attempted first-degree murder
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (three counts)
- First-degree reckless endangering (four counts)
- Carrying a concealed deadly weapon
Suspects’ names withheld under new Delaware law
Police have not released the names of those arrested. Delaware News Journal’s coverage notes that, due to new legislation passed by the Delaware Legislature and signed by Gov. Matt Meyer, law enforcement is withholding arrestees’ names in this case, and that the outlet will update its reporting as court records become available.
What police are saying
Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson Jr. said investigators “worked diligently to identify those responsible, develop the evidence, and coordinate apprehensions across jurisdictional boundaries,” and thanked Delaware State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service First State Fugitive Task Force, and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force–Salisbury for their “invaluable assistance.”
“While these arrests cannot undo the harm inflicted, they represent an important step toward accountability and justice for the victims, their families, and our community,” Johnson said.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Image credit: Delaware State Police cruiser photo via FFXnow. Featured image is illustrative of Delaware law enforcement and is not from the crime scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Dover homecoming shooting?
Nasir Cox, 22, of Philadelphia, was killed in the shooting on Oct. 10 at the Dover Commons shopping center parking lot in Dover, Delaware. A 21-year-old man was also wounded in the same shooting.
When did the shooting happen?
The shooting occurred on Saturday night, Oct. 10, 2026, in the parking lot of the Dover Commons shopping center on North DuPont Highway, following Delaware State University’s homecoming events.
Who has been arrested in the case?
Two suspects have been charged: a 22-year-old Dover man arrested on Oct. 16, and a 17-year-old boy arrested on Oct. 21 at a home in Snow Hill, Maryland. Police have not released their names due to new Delaware legislation.
What evidence did police find?
When officers searched the Dover man’s home, they recovered a 9mm handgun, ammunition, and clothing and accessories that police said matched items worn during the shooting.
What are the charges?
Both suspects face first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, four counts of first-degree reckless endangering, and carrying a concealed deadly weapon.
Where is the teenage suspect now?
The 17-year-old remains in Maryland pending extradition to Delaware.
Why were there so many police in the area that night?
Thousands of students and visitors were ordered to leave the Delaware State University campus around 6 p.m. on Oct. 10 after homecoming events ended, pushing large crowds into nearby shopping centers. More than 50 officers from multiple Delaware agencies were already deployed in the area to manage crowds and respond to fights and shots-fired reports.
What did Dover’s police chief say about the arrests?
Chief Thomas Johnson Jr. said investigators “worked diligently to identify those responsible, develop the evidence, and coordinate apprehensions across jurisdictional boundaries,” and credited Delaware State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and regional fugitive task forces.
