In Dover, Delaware police apprehended two suspects in connection with the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old prospective student at Delaware State University.
On April 21, 2024, Camay Mitchell De Silva was staying with a friend on campus when she was hit in the head by a stray bullet, according to local police.
Destry Jones, 20, and Damien Hinson, 18, both from Dover, were arrested on May 2 for their alleged involvement in the incident. During a press conference on May 6, Dover Police Department Chief Thomas Johnson Jr. stated that both men face charges of murder in connection with De Silva’s death and the attempted murder of two others.
U.S. Marshals arrested Jones in Brooklyn, New York, while Hinson was apprehended in Dover. Both suspects are currently held in custody. Hinson remains incarcerated in Sussex County on a cash bail exceeding $3 million, while Jones awaits extradition from New York. It remains unclear whether the suspects retained an attorney or entered a plea.
The Incident
The fatal shooting occurred around 1:40 a.m. near the Warren-Franklin dormitory, next to the Tubman-Laws dormitory on the Delaware State campus. Gunshots were initially heard by Dover police officers, who were patrolling nearby. University police received reports of shots fired following a fight in the breezeway area, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found De Silva suffering from a gunshot wound to her head. She was taken to a local hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
Innocent Victim
Chief Thomas Johnson Jr. emphasized that De Silva had no connection to the altercation and was not the intended target. “As we’ve stated before, Miss De Silva was not involved in this altercation, and we do not believe she was the intended target of the gunfire originating from the breezeway area,” he said. At the time of the shooting, De Silva was visiting a friend who attended Delaware State University. Previously, she had studied computer science at Morgan State University and was considering transferring to Delaware State to pursue a career in cybersecurity.
Remembering De Silva
At the press conference where the arrests were announced, De Silva’s mother, Shanelle De Silva, shared her sorrow. “They took someone completely uninvolved in their situation. Their senseless choices have impacted so many people,” she said. Addressing the suspects, she added, “I hope you can live with what you did and that the guilt consumes you.”
Friends and family described De Silva as a bright young woman with a contagious smile who brought joy to everyone around her. A GoFundMe campaign for her family raised over $19,000 before donations were closed.
“She was a light,” said Shanelle De Silva in an interview with WPVI. De Silva had graduated high school with honors in 2023 and had started her college journey at Morgan State before a mass shooting at the university in October 2023 prompted her to move closer to home. She was studying computer science at Delaware Technical Community College while planning her transfer to Delaware State.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation into the shooting continues, with police working to determine the motive. The suspects are believed to have been involved in a physical fight with two other individuals shortly before shots were fired. Neither Jones nor Hinson has any affiliation with Delaware State University.
National Reward and University Support
After the fatal shooting, a national nonprofit organization formed following the Uvalde, Texas school shooting, offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
University President Tony Allen expressed condolences and said Delaware State University would honor De Silva at its upcoming commencement ceremony, recognizing her potential and contribution to the community.