The small western Sussex County town of Laurel saw its third gun-related homicide of the year on Sunday, continuing a string of violence that has shocked the community.
Three teens, ages 18, 15 and 13, were shot in the 500 block of Laurel's West Seventh St. on Sunday afternoon, according to police.
The 18-year-old man was pronounced dead at a hospital, while the 15-year-old and 13-year-old boys were admitted to a local hospital in stable condition, Delaware State Police said in a news release.
The shooting took place in a residential area of downtown. Monday morning, the only evidence of the violence on West Seventh Street was a leftover piece of police tape dangling from a tree.
Here's what we know, so far.
How events unfolded in Oct. 30 shooting in Laurel
2:47 p.m.: Police respond to a report of a shooting in the 500 block of W. Seventh St. They find three victims on the porch of a residence, Delaware State Police said in a news release, including an 18-year-old male "suffering from multiple gunshot wounds" and 15-year-old and 13-year-old males "suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower extremities."
3:19 p.m.: The Laurel Police Department announces in a Facebook post they are on the scene of a shooting with multiple victims, with West Seventh Street, West Eighth Street and West Center Street all shut down. The scene is not secure, the post says, with multiple suspects at large.
Background:1 teen dead, 2 others injured in Laurel shooting Sunday, schools closed Monday
4:10 p.m.: The Laurel Police Department updates the Facebook post to say the 500 block of West Seventh Street remains closed. They ask people to avoid the area.
5:10 p.m.: The Laurel Police Department posts its final update on Facebook, turning the case over to the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit. Three male teens were shot, the post says, with the suspects still at large.
6:28 p.m.: Laurel School District Superintendent Shawn Larrimore announced schools would not open Monday. Safety is the district's top priority, he wrote in a Facebook post.
"There are still individuals at large whom the authorities are actively pursuing," Larrimore said.
6:30 p.m.: Delaware State Police spokesperson Amina Ali confirms one fatality related to the incident and no arrests.
"This is believed to be an isolated incident, and there is no suspected threat to the public," she said.
Monday, Oct. 30, 1 p.m.: Delaware State Police release the ages and conditions of the victims. All three are from Laurel, the news release says.
"A preliminary investigation revealed two unknown suspects approached the victims on foot and started shooting. After numerous rounds were fired, the suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction. The investigation has determined that this was not the result of an active shooter situation," the release states.
Anyone with information should contact Detective M. Csapo at302-741-2729 or send a Facebook message to Delaware State Police. Information can be provided anonymouslythroughDelaware Crime Stoppersat800-847-3333.
The bigger picture
Laurel's Oct. 29 victim represents the town's third homicide victim of 2023. All three died of gunshot wounds.
The first victim was another 18-year-old male, Corey Mumford, a basketball player and senior at Laurel High School. Police have said he was not the target in the shooting, which occurred April 14 in Wexford Village apartment complex. Three people have been charged with his murder.
No arrests have been made after 26-year-old Taylor German was shot and killed in a car outside Little Creek Apartments on Sept. 10. A 41-year-old Millsboro man who was in the car was also shot but survived.
More:There may have been 3 shooters in Laurel teen's slaying, and a second retaliatory shooting
Laurel has seen at least six shootings this year, more than any other Sussex town and less than only Dover and Wilmington statewide. Laurel has the second-most gun-related fatalities this year, following Wilmington.
DATA:Tracking gun violence in Delaware
The last shooting in Laurel was Sept. 28 at Hollybrook Farm apartments, in which one victim was shot in the chest and another "grazed." No arrests have been announced in that case.
Violent weekend in Sussex, nation
There was another shooting death in Sussex County over the weekend.
In Selbyville on Saturday, a 21-year-old woman was shot in the parking lot of a business plaza.
A fight broke out in the parking lot, police said, and the victim was attempting to get to her car when she was stuck by gunfire. A 30-year-old woman was also shot in that incident but was treated and released for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. No arrests have been announced.
More:Randon Wilkerson found guilty in murder of Delmar Cpl. Keith Heacook in quick trial
Violence wasn't limited to southern Delaware this weekend.
Nationwide, at least 11 people were killed by gun violence nationwide between Friday, Oct. 27, and Sunday, Oct. 29. Dozens more were injured.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.
