Death of 47-year-old man near New Castle ruled homicide

Police investigate suspicious death on Eider Court in Mallard Pointe. (Photo: Delaware Free News)
Police investigate homicide on Eider Court in Mallard Pointe. (Photo: Delaware Free News)

UPDATED STORY: Delaware murder suspect arrested in New York

NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE (1/29/2016) The death of a man in the Mallard Pointe commnunity near New Castle has been ruled a homicide, New Castle County police said.

The victim was identified as 47-year-old Shawn Spence of the 500 block of N. DuPont Highway near New Castle.

Spence’s body was found about 10 p.m. Thursday on the first floor of a home in the 900 block of Eider Court, where officers had been sent to check on the welfare of the man.

Cpl. Tom Jackson, a police spokesman, said Spence “had suffered significant physical injury.”

New Castle County paramedics pronounced Spence dead at the scene.

Gregory Parker (Photo: New Castle County police)
Gregory Parker (Photo: New Castle County police)

Jackson said police are looking for a person of interest, 52-year-old Gregory Parker,  who lived in the home where the incident occurred. He is described as a bald African-American male, with brown eyes, 6-feet-8 and about 225 pounds.

Anyone with information on the homicide or Gregory’s location is asked to call police at 302-395-8110 or 302-573-2800.

Tips also may be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards, at 800-847-3333 or www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.