New Castle County Police have confirmed that a shooting occurred at the Christiana Mall on Tuesday. A story only First State update brought you shortly after it occurred.
Police say last Tuesday, January 12, 2021, officers from the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to a local area hospital in reference a 19-year-old victim of a gunshot wound. The victim was driven by friends to the emergency room in a silver, Hyundai Genesis after suffering a gunshot wound to his back, according to police.
Witnesses provided varying details related to where the shooting occurred. After numerous additional interviews, detectives from the New Castle County Police Criminal Investigations Unit were able to determine that all the witnesses live in Sussex County and that the Christiana Mall appeared to be a consistent destination. Mall video surveillance was reviewed, and the investigators learned that the victim was seated in a vehicle parked at the Christiana Mall when he was shot in the back. As the scene was secured a blue Chevy Cruze was also located, in which a black semi-automatic handgun was observed.
Police said the investigation then revealed that 19-year-old, Raesheed Deshields of Laurel had in fact shot the victim in the back while they were both seated inside of the Genesis.
Deshields was taken into custody and charged with one count of felony Assault 1st and one count of felony Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. He was arraigned by New Castle County Court of Common Pleas and held in lieu of $120,000 secured bail.
Breaking Report
Newark – Earlier this afternoon sources began telling First State Update that a shooting occurred at the Christiana Mall.
We have spent much of the day trying to confirm that a shooting did in fact take place as reported. An email to State Police has gone unanswered, however, sources in law enforcement have confirmed an incident did take place.
Here’s what we know: Multiple Troopers responded to the mall and were observed checking multiple parked vehicles. We also know that a person with a gunshot wound was being treated at Christiana Hospital shortly after the reported incident at the mall. Law enforcement sources confirm that the vehicle the victim arrived in matches the description of a vehicle reportedly involved in an incident at the mall.
We have also been told that the incident was captured by video surveillance cameras.
This is a developing story.