United States Marshals Task Force Nabbs Shooting Suspect In Wilmington

Wilmington Police have arrested and charged a 37-year-old New Castle man in connection with a December 23, 2018 shooting.

On December 23 at approximately 9:06 p.m., police were dispatched to the 800 block of East 13th Street in reference to a shooting. There, they located a 44-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound.

Through investigative measures, Detective Matthew Reiss was able to develop 37-year-old Derro Smith as a suspect, and he obtained arrest warrants, according to police. A search warrant was served in January but Smith was not located, and the case was turned over to the United States Marshals Task Force for assistance.

On March 11, members of the Task Force located Smith in the 1300 block of West 3rd Street and took him into custody. A subsequent search yielded a .40-caliber handgun, two extended magazines, ammunition, a ballistic vest, and a Taser cartridge, said police. Police also found two black bags containing 406 grams of marijuana packaged in 14 individual packages, as well as what appeared to be two edible marijuana snacks.

Smith has been charged in connection with the December shooting incident as well as an October 5, 2018 robbery, for which he was previously wanted. His charges include:

Assault (First Degree)
Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Robbery (First Degree)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Two Counts)

Smith was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Facility on $221,000 cash-only bail.

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