Two teens charged with attempted murder in Halloween shooting near University of Delaware

Prosecutors have charged two teenagers, ages 17 and 18, with attempted first-degree murder in the Halloween shooting in Newark, Delaware, that left seven people wounded, police said Monday.

A New Castle County grand jury indicted both on seven attempted murder counts, 6abc Action News reported. The indictment also lists eight felony gun possession counts, along with single counts of conspiracy and reckless endangering, both in the first degree, and carrying a concealed deadly weapon. The younger suspect is also accused of having a gun while under 21, according to FOX 29 and 6abc.

The older suspect lives in Wilmington. The younger one is from North East, Maryland. Authorities have not released their names, and WHYY reported that a recent state law bars police from identifying suspects unless public safety requires it.

Shots rang out around 11 p.m. on Oct. 31 near the intersection of East Main and Choate streets, a short walk from campus, while large crowds were out. Those hurt were between 15 and 21 years old. Among them was a 20-year-old University of Delaware student whose lung collapsed, 6abc reported. Outlets gave different hospitalization figures: four, per WHYY, and three, per CBS Philadelphia.

Police said investigators used city camera footage of the suspects' movements, along with license plate reader data, to pinpoint a vehicle tied to them. According to WHYY, video showed the two leaving by car about half a minute after the gunfire.

The Cecil County Sheriff's Office helped arrest the 17-year-old in Maryland on Friday. He is being held at a juvenile facility there pending his return to Delaware, FOX 29 reported. The U.S. Marshals Service picked up the 18-year-old in Wilmington on Monday morning, and he is awaiting arraignment.

Separately, a 16-year-old who was among the wounded has been charged after officers found a loaded handgun on him, CBS Philadelphia reported. He was arraigned from his hospital bed.

Police had been watching social media chatter about a possible "teen takeover" that night. "We had no actionable intelligence or information to corroborate that there was any legitimate threat of violence to our community," Police Chief Mark Farrall said, according to CBS Philadelphia. Detectives say the motive is still unknown, and they are looking into whether anyone else took part and where the guns came from.

The state's chief deputy attorney general, named as Dan Logan by WHYY and as Sanders Logan by 6abc, called the shooting unacceptable. Mayor Travis McDermott said, "Violence has no place in the city of Newark," WHYY reported.

Newark police plan extra patrols around Main Street during this weekend's homecoming, and the mayor said the City Council has not discussed a curfew there, according to CBS Philadelphia. Police ask anyone with information to call 302-366-7127.

Compiled by True News from reporting by WHYY, FOX 29 Philadelphia, CBS Philadelphia and 6abc Action News. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/930