Darren C. Weiford

DOVER — A man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Thursday morning regarding the 2017 shooting death of a Dover-area woman at a city motel, according to the Delaware Department of Justice.

Darren Weiford, 21 years old at the time of the incident on June 1, 2017, also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2019 by Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clark.

Amber Buckler, 20, was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the upper body at the First State Inn Motel at 1760 N. DuPont Highway after Dover Police officers were called to the motel at 11:28 a.m. Mr. Weiford was arrested without incident at the scene. Police described the incident at the time as possibly domestic related.

Mr. Weiford was originally charged with first-degree murder and held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna on $1,180,000 cash bond, authorities said.

Deputy Attorneys General Dennis Kelleher and Lisa Whitelock represented the State of Delaware at the plea hearing. Attorneys Jim Liguori and Melissa Dill represented the defendant.