Two shots were fired into the floor of a Kent Apartments residence by an unknown suspect on Nov. 23. (Submitted photo/Dover Police)

DOVER — Violence continued on a troubled downtown block Monday afternoon as two vehicles were struck by gunfire before an unknown suspect or suspects fled, police said.

It was the second shooting in the first block of South New Street in less than a week, and third since Nov. 11.

Additionally, cash was forcibly taken during a robbery at a 7-11 convenience store at 449 S. New Street on Nov. 19.

Dover Police said multiple shots were fired at unoccupied parked vehicles on Monday at 2:39 p.m. The gunman or gunmen fled in an unknown direction and no injuries were reported,

On Nov. 23, at approximately 10 a.m., police said, an unknown suspect fired two to three shots into a floor at Kent Apartments at 30 S. New Street after knocking on the door and asking a 54-year-old man “where’s the stuff?”

The suspect, described only as a black man by the victim, fled in an unknown direction, according to authorities. The victim was unharmed.

In the incident at 7-11, police said a suspect entered the store and demanded cash from an employee at 10:21 p.m. The robber received money and fled in a northbound direction, authorities said.

Police said the suspect was described as a 5-foot-7 to 5-9 tall black man with a thin build, wearing a black hood, sweatshirt, dark mask/shirt on his face, white socks on his hand, black jeans, and black/white shoes.

“Detectives believe they have a suspect in the 7-11 case, but are not prepared to release any info at this time,” Dover PD spokesman Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman said on Tuesday.

Two shots were fired into the front door of a first block residence on Nov. 11, and an unknown black male suspect pointed a handgun at a 29-year old woman while demanding cash, police said. After taking money, the suspect fled in an unknown direction at approximately 8:33 p.m., police said.

No suspects were identified in the three first block incidents.

‘Minimal’ witness cooperation

While witnesses were present in most of the incident, Cpl. Hoffman said, “However cooperation can be best described as minimal in those investigations.

“We want to make arrests in all of these cases, but will need help from the community.”

There are City of Dover surveillance cameras in the area, according to Cpl. Hoffman.

Police have increased patrols in the area, particularly by the department’s Street Crimes Unit.

“We won’t discuss any further details as far as our enforcement efforts are concerned in order to protect our strategies,” Cpl. Hoffman said.

Police did not say the recent incidents were specifically connected, but all probably involved criminal drug dealing activities.

“We do not believe they are connected necessarily, but based on similar crimes we’ve seen, it is likely that these can be tied to the illegal drug trade,” Cpl. Hoffman said..

Investigations are ongoing and Dover Police 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 online at www.tipsubmit.com or through the Dover PD MyPD Mobile App.

Past incidents

An 18-year-old Dover man was arrested after a reported armed robbery on Oct. 6 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-year-old man who had dropped money to meet demands and tried to walk away, police said.

Police said Javon Jones was arrested without incident that night and charged with first-degree robbery, reckless endangering, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, and possession of firearm by person prohibited. He was then held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna on a $107,000 cash bond.

Rondree Campbell, 22, of Milford, was charged with first-degree murder after the shooting death of a 36-year-old Middletown man on New Street on Nov. 1, 2015, police said.

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.