DOVER, DELAWARE (11/5/2015) A 22-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of a Middletown man in Dover on Sunday night, city police said today.
Rondree Campbell, of South Walnut Street in Milford, was arrested Wednesday in the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Sylvester Williams that happened about 10 p.m. in the area of South New Street in Dover. This was the city’s seventh homicide of the year, a record number.
Campbell was arrested Wednesday when he checked in to the Dover probation and parole office.
Williams was killed by a single gunshot wound to the torso while he was in the area helping a family member move, police said.
Detectives do not believe he was the intended target.
Campbell was seeking retaliation for an earlier physical confrontation that didn’t involve Williams, police said.
Campbell first fired a gun in the area multiple times, then left and returned 10 minutes later, firing multiple times again, with one shot striking Williams and others hitting a home, police said.
Campbell also was charged with possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, carrying a concealed deadly weapon and reckless endangering.
He was being held at Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna.
Noting the record number of homicides in the city this year, Dover police said three of the seven remain unsolved, involving these victims:
• Jan. 25: Jordan Michael Peck
• April 26: David Clark
• Oct. 2: Thomas Deputy
The number of shootings also has increased, police said, with 32 cases through Wednesday.
Police said they know there are multiple witnesses but cooperation continues to be inconsistent.
Police Chief Paul Bernat said, “We have provided extra patrols, we have positioned our officers and arranged their work schedules to combat criminal activity, and we continue to conduct community outreach activities in our high-crime areas. At some point, the citizens have to speak up and take a stand. That time is now. Help us, help you.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 302-736-7111.
Tips also may be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards up to $1,000, at 800-847-3333 or www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.