DOVER — A 22-year-old man was shot early Monday morning on South New Street, the downtown area’s latest violent act in the past seven months.

This time, the victim suffered a non-life threatening wound to the buttocks at approximately 2:14 a.m. and was treated after arriving at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover Police said.

Officers were called to the first block of South New Street after receiving a report of several shots fired in the area. A victim reportedly appeared at the hospital as officers investigated the scene, spokesman Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman said.

Police said the victim arrived at the hospital with another person. Investigators interviewed the wounded man “but his cooperation is minimal at this time,” Cpl. Hoffman said.

It was not clear whether the man was targeted and unknown if witnesses were present.

Investigation is ongoing and Dover PD asked anyone with information to call 736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous.

Tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on-line at www.tipsubmit.com or through the Dover PD MyPD Mobile App.

Police have focused intently on the overall downtown area due to crime concerns.

“We have been proactively enforcing quality of life crimes, drug related crimes, and other issues in the downtown area and will continue to maintain a strong presence in those neighborhoods,” Cpl. Hoffman said.

String of incidents

On May 3, Milford resident Rondree Campbell was sentenced to nine years in prison after a guilty plea to manslaughter in a shooting death on Nov. 1, 2015. A Middletown man was slain as he helped a relative move in the first block of South New Street.

Just after 10 p.m. on May 2, a 44-year-old woman’s vehicle was shot several times as she drove southbound in the unit block on South New Street. No injuries were reported and the victim said she did not see the source of the gunfire.

Despite what police described as a quick response to the area followed by a thorough search, no suspect or suspects were found.

Early in the morning of April 6, numerous shots were reportedly discharged. Arriving officers found that an occupied home and unoccupied vehicle were damaged at approximately 3:02 a.m. No injuries were reported.

A 42-year-old Dover man was arrested 17 days after a reported shooting on Feb. 24, police said. Gregory Scott was arrested without incident as he walked in the South New Street area. A surveillance video allegedly showed a wounded man falling to the pavement after being shot twice on Feb. 7, police said.

According to police, a suspect allegedly emerged from the side of a house and discharged two rounds, striking the victim in the upper torso.

The wounded man drove to Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, where life-saving surgery was immediately performed, according to police.

Two men were shot in the first block of South New Street at 1:49 a.m. on Dec. 9, 2016, police said. They arrived at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital in separate vehicles and were threated for non-life threatening injuries.

According to investigators, the wounded men confirmed the area of the shooting, but did not provide further details.

Shootings last November

Three shootings occurred between Nov. 11, 2016 and Nov. 29, 2016 in the first block of South New Street, with an additional robbery of a nearby 7-11 convenience store on Nov. 19.

No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.

The sequence concluded on Nov. 29 when two vehicles were damaged by gunfire before a suspect or suspects fled at approximately 2:39 p.m.

On Nov. 23, two to three shots were fired into a floor at Kent Apartments in the first block after a suspect knocked on a door and asked “where’s the stuff?” according to police.

On Nov. 11, an unknown black male suspect discharged two rounds into a front door after confronting a 29-year-old woman and demanding cash. The suspect fled in an unknown direction after receiving money at approximately 8:33 p.m., authorities said.

During the November run of violence last year, police confirmed that City of Dover surveillance cameras covered the area and patrols were increased, especially by the department’s Street Crimes Unit.

Witness cooperation was minimal in all the incidents, police said.

At the time, police said the three incidents were not tied together, but likely involved illegal drug dealing.

Also, an 18-year-old Dover man was arrested after a reported armed robbery on Oct. 6, 2016 in the area of South New and Reed streets at approximately 2:15 a.m. The suspect fired a shot that hit the bag of a 48-yearold man who had dropped money to meet demands and tried to walk away, police said.

Police said investigations were ongoing in all the unsolved cases.

On Sept. 1, 2015,fleeing suspect Terrance Fletcher, 21, was shot once by a Dover Police officer after being contacted in the 100 block of South New Street and then running through an alleyway, authorities said.

Fletcher suffered a non-life threatening wound to the leg and the officer was cleared of wrongdoing by the Delaware Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust.