Delaware man murdered in downtown Wilmington

Wilmington Police are searching for two men wanted for the shooting death of a Townsend man Wednesday night.

UPDATE: Police have identified the victim as Ioannis Kostikidis, a security guard for the American Beauty Academy located on W. 9th Street. He was walking to his car when he was approached by the suspects. Police are asking for private residents and businesses located near the incident to share any security camera footage they have to help piece together the crime.

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Original Story:

Police say the 53-year-old man was shot in the upper body in the 600 block of North Tatnall Street just before 9 p.m.  He was taken to Christiana Hospital where he died.

Witnesses tell police the suspects were wearing black hooded sweatshirts with their hoods pulled over their faces as they were seen running from the scene.  

Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams has promised a more aggressive policing effort to combat violence in the city following the shooting of a Wilmington Police officer on Sunday.  The city’s latest murder happened just five blocks from the Mayor’s office and just three blocks from Wilmington’s business and cultural hub on Market Street.  Williams has not yet announced details of his new crime plan.