NEWARK, DE — A 24-year-old man from Greensboro, North Carolina, is facing multiple felony charges following a late-night incident at a Newark hotel in which gunfire was reported and guests were allegedly threatened, according to the Delaware State Police.
Authorities responded to the Sonesta ES Suites at 240 Chapman Road at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025, after receiving a report of shots fired. When troopers arrived, they observed a man fleeing from the hotel parking lot into nearby woods. The suspect—identified as Messiah Bernavil—was reportedly armed with a small knife visible in his waistband and did not comply with verbal commands from officers. Troopers deployed a Taser to subdue him and took him into custody without further incident.
The investigation revealed that prior to the confrontation, Bernavil had allegedly been waving a handgun inside his hotel room, where a 33-year-old woman, a 52-year-old woman, and two young children—a nine-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl—were present. When the victims attempted to leave, police say Bernavil restrained the 52-year-old woman and then discharged the firearm multiple times inside the room.
No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire, though police confirmed that the hotel room sustained damage. A handgun believed to be used in the incident was later recovered in the parking lot where Bernavil had initially been spotted.
Following medical evaluation at a local hospital, Bernavil was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 2, where he was formally charged with a series of offenses, including:
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- First-Degree Reckless Endangering (Felony)
- First-Degree Unlawful Imprisonment (Felony)
- Three Counts of Second-Degree Reckless Endangering
- Two Counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child
- Resisting Arrest
- Carrying a Concealed Dangerous Instrument
- Criminal Mischief
Bernavil was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $64,050 cash bond.
The case remains under investigation. As with all criminal proceedings, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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