One dead in Sunday night Wilmington shooting

A 23-year-old man is the latest murder victim in what has been a busy year for shootings in the city of Wilmington.

Police have identified the victim as 23-year-old Kareem Owens of Wilmington.  Owens was shot multiple times in the area of W. 24th and N. Washington Streets just after 7 p.m. on Sunday.  Police found the man on the street with multiple gunshot wounds.  He was pronounced dead after being taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital.

Police have no suspect information in the homicide.

More violence

Just a few hours earlier, a 35-year-old Newark man was shot in the area of W. 7th and N. Washington Streets around 5:15 p.m.  Police say the victim was in the area to buy drugs when three men tried to rob him.  The victim was shot as he tried to run from the would-be robbers.  

Police say the three suspects range in age from 16 to 19 years old.  They were last seen running from the scene in an unknown direction.  The victim was taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

Fighting crime

More than 130 people have been shot in the city of Wilmington through the first ten months this year.  That’s higher than the 12 month total for all of 2012.  Last year, 119 people were shot within the city.  Of those shootings, 25 resulted in death.

Earlier this month, Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams unveiled plans to increase police presence in the downtown business district.  Williams was elected in November 2012 after running a campaign based on his experience as a former police officer and his pledge to make Wilmington a safer place.