WILMINGTON, DE — Wilmington police have released additional details about last week’s fatal officer-involved shooting that left a 19-year-old Wilmington man dead, including the location of the gunshot wound and the recovery of a firearm from the scene.
According to Wilmington Police, officers were patrolling the area of 24th and Jessup streets at about 11:12 p.m. on June 25 when they observed a large crowd. Police said officers then saw a man, later identified as Kadir Skinner, 19, of Wilmington, exit a residence while allegedly armed with a handgun and point the weapon toward the crowd.
Police reported that officers approached Skinner, who allegedly fled on foot. During the ensuing pursuit, an officer discharged a department-issued firearm, striking Skinner.
Investigators previously said Skinner was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
In an update released this week, Wilmington Police said an investigation by the Delaware Division of Forensic Sciences determined that Skinner sustained a single gunshot wound to his upper left buttocks area.
Police also disclosed that, after officers realized Skinner had been injured, an officer at the scene transported him to the hospital in an effort to obtain medical care.
According to investigators, officers recovered Skinner’s firearm — described as a loaded .45-caliber handgun equipped with an extended magazine — along with ballistic evidence from the scene. Authorities said the evidence has been submitted for forensic analysis as part of the ongoing investigations.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Wilmington Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and Office of Professional Standards, as well as the Delaware Department of Justice and its Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust. In accordance with department policy, the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave.
“We understand that our community has questions following last week’s officer-involved shooting, and I can assure you that we are working diligently to understand everything that occurred,” Police Chief Wilfredo Campos said.
“I join Mayor Carney in asking the public for patience as these investigations continue,” Campos added. “We owe it to everyone involved – and every resident of Wilmington – to conduct a thorough investigation and to ensure that we have an accurate understanding of everything that occurred last week.”
Campos also urged anyone with information or video of the incident to come forward, saying, “The facts of this case will be shared publicly following the conclusion of these thorough investigations.”
Police said they have offered Skinner’s family an opportunity to view body-worn camera footage related to the incident, and that the offer remains open.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Robert Fox at 302-576-3625. Video evidence may also be submitted through the department’s online evidence portal.
The Wilmington Police Department’s Victim Service Unit and Youth Response Unit are also offering support services and counseling resources to individuals affected by the incident.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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