3 dead in Delaware soccer shooting

Wilmington Police say two victims who were shot on the field during a soccer game Sunday have died at the hospital.  A suspect who was in a car that got into a crash nearby also was shot to death.

Sixteen-year-old Alexander Kamara of Pike Creek died of a gunshot to the head.  Forty-seven-year-old Herman Curry also was pronounced dead after being shot in the chest.

The suspect who was pronounced dead Sunday has been identified as 43-year-old Sheldon Olge of Maryland.

Two suspects are charged with the killings of Kamara and Curry.

Otis Phillips, 34, of New Castle, was arrested in a nearby vacant lot Sunday.  He is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, conspiracy and weapons offenses.  Police say Phillips was also wanted for a January 2008 homicide in Wilmington on North Locust Street.

Jeffrey Phillips, 22, of Wilmington, is also under arrest on murder charges.  He suffered a gunshot wound to the leg before being arrested by Wilmington Police.

Wilmington Police Chief Michael Szczerba said his department will continue with high-visibility patrols, utilizing overtime when necessary.

“When you’re looking at an active park, with a soccer tournament, basketball games, people occupying the pool, and you have a few violent individuals acting in that manner… it’s sad to see,” Szczerba said.  “The investigation will not end with these arrests.”

One day after gunshots rang out at Wilmington’s Eden Park, children were climbing on the playground equipment.  Some played basketball.  A few parks and recreation employees were overseeing the usual summer feeding program for young people. Several police officers were utilizing the park for a K-9 training exercise.

In the parking lot near the field where three players were hit by gunfire, chalk circles outlined areas where police found evidence.

Rita Brisco of Milton is an occasional visitor to the park, and was there at midday Monday just a short time after learning about the violence the previous day.

“To me, it’s safe.  Now, after the incident happened, it’s not too safe for the children,” Brisco said.  “That’s my main concern, the children.  Because a bullet doesn’t have anybody’s name.”

Another man who was visiting the park said he grew up nearby and said it was a nice park years ago.

The incident personally touched City Councilwoman Hanifa Shabazz, whose own grandson dove into the pool at the park to escape the gunfire.  For a time, his whereabouts were unknown.

“We need to have some street intervention done,” Shabazz said.