(New Castle, DE 19720) On Friday, March 20, 2026, at approximately 12:07 a.m., officers with the New Castle County Division of Police responded to the unit block of Blairville Road in the Blairville Court Townhouse community for a report of an attempted robbery that had just occurred.
Upon arrival, officers located multiple shell casings in the roadway, as well as several vehicles that had sustained gunfire damage.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Unit responded and assumed the investigation. Through investigative efforts, Detectives determined that a 15-year-old male from New Castle had been in contact with a victim regarding the sale of marijuana. During that communication, the 15-year-old, along with an 18-year-old male later identified as Jimmie French of New Castle and another unidentified male, approached the victim’s vehicle and attempted to rob them. As the victim fled the scene, shots were fired.
Detectives identified two suspects, who were subsequently located and taken into custody on Thursday, March 26, 2026. They were charged as follows:
15-year-old male
- Three felony counts of Attempted Robbery First Degree
- One felony count of Conspiracy Second Degree
The juvenile was arraigned by New Castle County Family Court and committed to a juvenile detention center after failing to post $62,000 secured bail.
Jimmie French
- Three felony counts of Attempted Robbery First Degree
- Three felony counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree
- One felony count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- One felony count of Conspiracy Second Degree
French was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $56,500 cash bail.
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Detectives with the Violent Crimes & Interdiction Team, along with Delaware Probation and Parole officers, were in the area of Tremont Street in New Castle when they conducted a pedestrian stop on 18-year-old Jummah El of New Castle. Upon seeing the Detectives, El fled on foot but was quickly apprehended after a brief pursuit. During the foot pursuit, he discarded a loaded handgun, which was later recovered.
El was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters and charged with:
- One felony count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- One felony count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
- One felony count of Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
- One misdemeanor count of Resisting Arrest
- One violation of Pedestrian on Roadway Where Sidewalk Is Available
El was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $15,501 secured bail.
On April 16, 2026, Detectives continued their investigation and identified Jummah El as the third suspect in the March 20 incident. Because he was already in custody, he was additionally charged with:
- Three felony counts of Attempted Robbery First Degree
- Three felony counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree
- One felony count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- One felony count of Conspiracy Second Degree
El remains held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on an additional $18,501 cash bail.
Jimmie French – 18
Jummah El -18
