Third arrest made in Appoquinimink gun-discharge case

By Craig Anderson

MIDDLETOWN — A 16-year-old male has been arrested in connection with a fight and gun discharge inside Appoquinimink High School on Feb. 6, Delaware State Police said Sunday.

The Middletown teen turned himself in to Troop 2 detectives Friday. He was charged with rioting, third-degree assault, third-degree conspiracy and disorderly conduct.

He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on his own recognizance. He also was ordered to have no contact with the co-defendants, the alleged victim of the assault or Appoquinimink High, and was forbidden from attending future Appoquinimink School District sports events, police said.

Last week, two males, ages 20 and 15, were charged with rioting, third-degree assault, third-degree conspiracy and disorderly conduct in connection with the same incident. The adult was from Bear, the juvenile from Middletown.

Also last week, a 14-year-old male from Middletown was taken into custody in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and was awaiting extradition. He will be charged with possession of a firearm by a person prohibited (two counts), possession of a firearm in a school safe zone and third-degree assault when returned to Delaware, authorities said.

None of the suspects attends Appoquinimink High, Delaware State Police Senior Cpl. Jason Hatchell said.

Police said the incident at the school, 1080 Bunker Hill Road, occurred at approximately 7:16 p.m., as a boys basketball game was being played between the host Jaguars and Tri-State Christian Academy of Elkton, Maryland.

Police reported that a handgun was stepped on and discharged during a large fight outside the gym. A wall was struck by the gunfire, and troopers recovered the weapon in a hallway. No injuries were reported due to the fired shot.

The case was the fourth firearm-related incident at a New Castle County school in a month. Other incidents included:

• Feb. 2 at Alexis I. du Pont Middle School, Greenville. State police said a student was found to have a handgun in his backpack. The 14-year-old was arrested on three felonies — possession of a firearm by a person under 21, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a weapon in a safe school zone. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, released on unsecured bond and turned over to a relative.
• Feb. 2 at Evan G. Shortlidge Academy, Wilmington. Wilmington police said that officers responded to the 100 block of West 18th Street after a school constable located an unloaded firearm in an 8-year-old male student’s backpack. There were no injuries during this incident, which is under investigation by members of the Criminal Investigations Division.
• Jan. 10 at William Penn High School, New Castle. State police investigated a reported shot fired at the school, but there were no injuries. A 16-year-old male from Wilmington was later arrested and charged with first-degree reckless endangering, among other offenses.

In a message to Appoquinimink School District families and staff Friday, Superintendent Matt Burrows said the Feb. 6 “incident pointed to the need for additional safety measures at high school basketball games.”

He also announced changes, including:

• Ticket taking has been moved to the building entrance nearest the gym versus at the entrance to the gym.
• Additional police officers have been stationed at the ticket-taking area and the public areas outside the gym. Law enforcement was, and will continue to be, a visible deterrent inside the gym.
• There will be no concessions at basketball games.
• Ticket sales for basketball games will be cut off at midnight the day before the event.
• There will be a limit on the number of tickets available.

These protocols, in place now, apply to all high school basketball games, including any home playoff contests, Mr. Burrows said.