New Castle County authorities have announced multiple arrests following an attempted robbery that escalated into gunfire in a residential community in March.
Police responded shortly after midnight on March 20, 2026, to the unit block of Blairville Road in the Blairville Court Townhouse community, where officers located numerous shell casings scattered across the roadway. Several parked vehicles in the area had been struck by gunfire.
Investigators determined the confrontation stemmed from a planned meeting involving the sale of marijuana. During the encounter, three individuals approached a vehicle and attempted to carry out a robbery according to police. As the intended victim fled from the scene shots were fired.
Detectives identified a 15-year-old male and 18-year-old Jimmie French, both of New Castle, as two of the suspects. The juvenile faces multiple felony charges, including attempted first-degree robbery and conspiracy, and was committed to a juvenile detention facility after failing to post secured bail. French was charged with multiple felonies, including attempted robbery, reckless endangering, and firearm-related offenses, and was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on cash bail.
The investigation continued into April, when officers assigned to the Violent Crimes and Interdiction Team, along with probation and parole personnel, encountered 18-year-old Jummah El on Tremont Street. Authorities reported that El fled on foot when approached and discarded a loaded handgun during the pursuit according to police. He was quickly taken into custody, and the firearm was recovered.
Following additional investigative work, officials said detectives linked El to the March 20 attempted robbery. He now faces multiple felony charges related to both the firearm possession and the earlier incident, including attempted robbery, reckless endangering, and conspiracy. El remains in custody at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on additional secured bail.
The investigation remains active as authorities continue efforts to determine whether additional individuals were involved.
