On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at approximately 2:19 a.m., Officers with the New Castle County Division of Police were conducting proactive overnight patrol in Banning Park, located at 102 Middleboro Road in Wilmington, Delaware. While checking the park, officers observed a Honda Ridgeline occupied by two individuals near the dog park area.

As the Officers approached the vehicle, they observed a female occupant getting dressed and a male occupant partially unclothed. The male was later identified as 22-year-old Majdi Jones of Northeast Maryland. The female occupant was later confirmed to be a 12-year-old female.

Due to the nature of the incident, Jones was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Unit assumed the investigation.

During the investigation, Detectives determined that Jones had been communicating with the victim via social media and had arranged to pick her up at a residence, then drove to Banning Park, where they were subsequently contacted by police.

Following the investigation, Majdi Jones was charged with the following offenses:

• Three felony counts of Rape Third Degree – Victim Less Than 16 Years of Age
• One felony count of Rape Fourth Degree – Victim Less Than 16 Years of Age
•  One misdemeanor count of Trespassing in a County Park After Dark

Majdi Jones was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 02 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $200,100 cash bail.

Majdi Jones – 22