WILMINGTON, DE — A Tuesday morning shooting in Wilmington has led to the arrest of two men, one of whom is also a suspect in an earlier burglary the same day, according to the Wilmington Police Department.
Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Bayard Avenue at approximately 9:55 a.m. on August 5, 2025, following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, police found a 35-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim, identified as Tyre Hampton of Newark, sustained a minor injury and was transported to the hospital in stable condition.
Detective Brendan Wham of the Criminal Investigations Division was assigned to the case. Through investigative efforts, authorities determined the shooting was connected to a burglary reported earlier that morning in the 3200 block of West 2nd Street.
As a result of the investigation, police arrested 69-year-old Lamotte Cephas, who was identified as the alleged shooter. Cephas was taken into custody without incident and charged with second-degree assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $25,000 secured bail.
The shooting victim, Tyre Hampton, was also arrested after police identified him as a suspect in the aforementioned burglary. At the time of his arrest, Hampton was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. He has been charged with second-degree burglary, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in a Tier 2 quantity, possession of a controlled substance in a Tier 2 quantity, and theft under $1,500. Hampton was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $9,000 secured bail.
Both cases remain under investigation. Authorities have not disclosed a motive or further details about the relationship between the suspects.
As with all criminal proceedings, both Cephas and Hampton are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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