On December 31, at approximately 6:49 p.m., patrol officers from the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to the unit block of Willings Way, in the community of Ashton Condominiums for a report of a shooting that had just occurred.
When the units arrived, they discovered one male subject in a parked car. The male was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was then transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious, life-threatening injuries. Once at the hospital, the victim, identified as 37-year-old Cornelius Wright was pronounced deceased.
Detectives from the New Castle County Criminal Investigation Unit, Homicide Squad, assumed the investigation. Detectives developed 35-year-old Ervin Christy, Jr. of Chestertown, Maryland as a suspect in the case, according to police..
Christy was indicted by the Grand Jury of New Castle County on February 3rd for Murder 1st, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Attempted Robbery 1st, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Conspiracy 2nd.
Last Thursday, Feb 6, 2020, New Castle County Detectives, as well as officers from the Philadelphia Police Department and Federal Agents, were able to locate and arrest Christy in the City of Philadelphia.
He is currently being held without bail, pending extradition to Delaware.
“We offer our condolences to the Wright family for this senseless violent act that took the life of Mr. Cornelius Wright.”, stated Colonel Vaughn M. Bond, Jr. “Once again, the community and New Castle County Police have worked tirelessly to identify the suspect in this murder. I am extremely grateful for this outcome but let us not forget about the other families whose loved one’s murders are still unsolved. Today, I encourage anyone with information on any unsolved homicides to please report that information to your local police department.”
Anyone with information/ video pertaining to this investigation is asked to contact Det. DiNardo at 302-395-8110 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Citizens can also submit a tip via our website at http://www.nccpd.com.,or (IM) on the New Castle County Division of Police Facebook page. Citizens can also submit a tip anonymously by text. Send a text to 847411 with NCCDE in the text field and your tip.