Man Facing Murder, Robbery Charges In Fatal June Shooting

Wilmington Police have charged a man in connection to a June fatal shooting incident.

Officials said on June 11, at approximately 2:16 p.m., officers responded to the unit block of East 23rd Street, in reference to a shooting incident. Upon arrival, officers located a gunshot victim – 37-year-old Dennis Davis, who was transported to the hospital and later succumbed to his injuries.

The case was assigned to Detective Derek Haines of the Criminal Investigations Division. Through the course of his investigation, Detective Haines identified 33-year-old Deontay Willingham as a suspect.

The case was presented to the New Castle County Grand Jury on June 20, and an indictment was returned for Willingham. On July 5, Willingham was taken into custody in Pennsylvania on an unrelated matter.

Willingham has been charged with the following offenses:

  • Murder (First Degree)
  • Murder During the Commission of a Felony (First Degree)
  • Robbery (First Degree)
  • Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony – Three Counts
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
  • Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon

On July 21, Willingham was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 20 and was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $1,500,000 cash-only bail.