Mean Streets of Wilmington

The events below happened today about two blocks from my house:


By TERRI SANGINITI

The News Journal
04/10/2006

WILMINGTON -- A lunch-hour gun battle left one person dead today near Wilmington Hospital.

Police Capt. Sean Finerty said the victim was involved in “some type of running gun battle” with several other people.

The victim was riding a bicycle along Washington Street near 14th Street when shot, police said. A gun was found near the victim.

• The suspects fled on foot, some discarding their outer clothing as they ran. Three people are in custody, according to police.

• Traffic around the hospital was rerouted as police investigated. The roads were reopened around 3 p.m.

• Wilmington Hospital remains open, said Dan Bates, corporate director of external affairs for Christiana Care, which operates the hospital.

• An employee at The House of Watches, who declined to give his name, said he and his colleagues heard three pops and saw some people running down the street. It was “very” scary, he said, but a police officer happened to be in the store at the time as a customer. The store, at 1330 Washington St., remains open, he said.

• Riva Brown, co-owner of Living Letters Studio in the 1300 block of Washington Street, said her calligraphy studio and art galler/frame shop remained open, but she was staying inside and out of the way. She did not see the shooting, only its aftermath as a crowd of onlookers and police arrived. “Until this clears out a little, I think I’ll just keep my door locked,” Brown said.

See complete coverage Tuesday in The News Journal and at www.delawareonline.com.

Contact Terri Sanginiti at 324-2771 or tsanginiti@delawareonline.com.