(Claymont, DE 19703) On Friday, August 23, 2024, at 10:27 a.m., patrol officers were dispatched to the above area for a shooting. Officers arrived at the scene and located a 35-year-old male who had been shot. The victim, who has been identified as Devontre Taylor of Wilmington, was transported to a local area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
SWAT and the Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the scene due to reports that the suspect was seen entering a building in the complex. SWAT and Patrol Officers were able to detain a male at the building who matched the provided description, he was then transported to the New Castle County Police Headquarters.
Detectives from the Division’s Major Crimes Squad and Evidence Detection Squad responded to the scene to assume the investigation. During their investigation, Detectives were able to identify the suspect as 27-year-old Michael Toombs of Claymont, who was in police custody. Warrants were authored for Michael, and he was arraigned at the New Castle County Police Headquarters on August 23, 2024.
Michael was charged with the following:
- Murder First Degree
- Robbery First Degree
- Manufacture/Deliver/PWID Controlled Substance
- Three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
Michael was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and was committed to the Howard R Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $950,000 cash bail.
Anyone with information or surveillance footage/cell phone video pertaining to this incident is asked to please contact Detective Arnold at matthew.arnold@newcastlede.gov or (302) 395-2787.
Tips can be forwarded to:
New Castle County Division of Police non-emergency number at (302) 573-2800
Criminal Investigations Unit at (302) 395-8110
Facebook (IM) “New Castle County Police”
Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 – Submit a tip online at http://www.delawarecrimestoppers.com
