Wilmington, DE — In a quiet Southbridge street just before dawn on January 9, a 19-year-old man lost his life to gunfire in what city police have confirmed is Delaware’s first homicide of the year. Officers found him dead in the 200 block of South Claymont Street around 3:30 a.m. after responding to reports of shots fired.
Friends and neighbors in the Southbridge neighborhood woke to the sound of police cars and flashing lights as crime scene tape sealed off the usually calm stretch of houses. The victim, identified by police as Melvin Njungwa, was already beyond help by the time officers reached him. Wilmington Police Department investigators have described the case as an active homicide investigation, with detectives working through early leads.
Authorities have not named any suspects or shared what may have led to the shooting. Detectives are urging anyone who might have seen or heard anything around that early hour to come forward. Wilmington police stress that no arrests have been made, and that any person connected to the case is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
The shooting has stirred sadness and concern among people who live nearby. Long-time resident Carmen Lewis said the violence feels sudden in an area more known for community barbecues and kids playing in the street than late-night gunfire. “It’s shocking to hear something like this just steps from where we walk every day,” she said. Others echoed similar feelings of unease and hope that answers will come soon.
Police also noted that this deadly event comes amid broader crime trends in Wilmington and the state. Last year, Delaware reported 52 people killed in violent crimes, a nearly 12 percent drop from 59 such deaths the year before. That total includes fatal shootings and other violent deaths. Crime data through the end of 2025 showed some decreases in serious incidents across the state, though gun violence remains a key focus for law enforcement.
Family and friends of Njungwa have yet to release a public statement, and no funeral arrangements have been announced. The community’s grief is palpable, with many remembering the bright, young man taken too soon. A local youth worker, reflecting on the loss, spoke about the deep ache such violence leaves in a community, especially when it claims someone so young.
Detectives ask anyone with information to contact Wilmington Police or Delaware Crime Stoppers. In cases like this, even the smallest detail — a passing car, a shadow seen on a quiet street, a late-night visit to a neighbor — can help piece together what happened that early January morning.
