18-year-old killed in Delaware State University shooting; Monday classes canceled

FOX 29 Staff
·2 min read

DOVER, Del. - A shooting on Delaware State University's campus left an 18-year-old woman dead early Sunday morning, according to Dover Police.

Officers responded to shots being fired near Warren-Franklin Hall around 1:40 a.m.

They found the teen unconscious, suffering from gunshot wounds to her chest.

She was transported to Bayhealth Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries. Police later identified the 18-year-old victim as Camay Mitchell DeSilva of Wilmington.

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Police say she was not a student at Delaware State University.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and possibly another female, both non-students, were visiting a DSU student on-campus.

The university closed campus on Sunday, and canceled all classes and events on Monday, stating that they are working with police to "bring the suspects to justice," asking anyone with information to come forward.

Delaware State University's president, Tony Allen, released a statement Sunday night regarding the tragic death:

"Whoever believes that settling disagreements of any kind should be met with physical violence, including the threat of and eventual use of firearms, is simply not welcomed here. Delaware State University is an institution of significant historical and contemporary importance to our community and our country. It is not a place to harbor those who have no respect for these hallowed, sacred grounds. Our job is to educate global citizens. Period. Full Stop. Violence of any kind, particularly gun violence, happens too often on college campuses, large and small, throughout the country. It does not make it acceptable, and it will never be rationalized away, minimized, or normalized here. Let us make sure we are collectively resolute on this point."

No other injuries were reported.

FOX 29’s Gregory Payne headed to the campus the day after the tragedy to get reactions from students.

"It’s definitely like a little eerie, gloomy feeling, you feel something different, just different, it doesn’t really feel right," said Jerone Williams.

Jerone Williams is a junior at the university and was one of the few students walking around campus while classes were canceled Monday.

"It’s just astonishing to be honest, like, it’s crazy. I go to this school, I walk around right at that building every day so just to know something could happen, you just got to be aware of your surroundings for real," said Williams. "It makes it even worse because maybe she was trying to come here and see how the school was, it’s definitely sad."

Dover police are continuing to work to track down the suspects involved in order to bring justice to DeSilva’s family.

"The gun is not the solution. Put the gun down, don’t use the gun, to solve your problems. There are other ways to do that. People are dying, lives are being cut short, it’s a tragedy that’s preventable," said Thomas Johnson Jr. , Chief of Police, Dover PD.