UPDATE: Fatal stabbing in the heart of downtown Wilmington

Police found a man bleeding heavily from the neck just after 9 p.m. Wednesday at 9th and Market Street, in the middle of the city’s business district.

An unconscious 35-year-old victim was found by police at the corner of 9th and Market Street. He was rushed to Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived. Police have identified the victim as Melvin Smith of Wilmington.  He was stabbed in the neck. 

The incident happened less than an hour after outgoing Mayor Dennis Williams delivered his brief farewell address a few blocks away at the City/County Building. During that address, Williams touted his administration’s efforts to fight crime and improve policing in the city. The area where the victim was found is home to a hundreds of new apartment units built by prominent Wilmington developers Buccini/Pollin Group.

That part of the city has mostly been immune to incidents of violence that have plagued other parts of Wilmington. BPG has spent millions of dollars developing former office space and other buildings into residences in an effort to increase the population of the downtown district and to draw more investment dollars into the area.

Polices say the investigation into Wednesday night’s homicide is active and ongoing. They’re asking anyone with information to call Detective Brian Conkey at 302-576-3620 or the homicide hotline at 302-576-3939.