Gunfire tore through a crowded parking lot outside a Smyrna bar late Saturday night, leaving two people with gunshot wounds to their lower extremities and investigators combing the pavement for more than 30 spent shell casings. The shooting broke out around 11:40 p.m. in the lot of End Zone Bar & Grill, tucked inside the Gateway North Shopping Center along North DuPont Highway, during what preliminary findings describe as an exchange of gunfire among several suspects amid a large gathering.
According to WMDT, Smyrna police officers were dispatched to the scene after reports of shots fired, and found that several suspects had exchanged gunfire during the gathering. Both victims were struck in the lower extremities and self-transported to a nearby hospital, where they were listed in stable condition, the outlet reported. The department's Special Investigations Unit took over processing of the scene, recovering more than 30 spent shell casings scattered across the lot. Vehicles parked nearby and a commercial building were also struck by gunfire, per the same report.
The shooting landed on what was supposed to be a celebratory weekend for the bar. The Town of Smyrna had publicly promoted End Zone's 1st Anniversary Celebration for Sunday at 3 p.m., according to a Town of Smyrna Facebook post. Instead, the celebration weekend began with gunfire and a parking lot full of shell casings rather than anniversary festivities.
A Busy Retail Plaza Turned Crime Scene
Gateway North Shopping Center is a neighborhood commercial plaza along U.S. Route 13 and Stadium Street, featuring roughly 20 store units and 500 parking spaces, according to a LoopNet listing for the property. The center hosts major retail anchors including Food Lion and Dollar Tree alongside local dining spots, meaning the lot where the gunfire erupted sits just steps from businesses that serve the broader community throughout the week.
Smyrna has seen other gunfire incidents in recent months. In July, Delaware State Police investigated a shots-fired incident in town in which an occupied home was struck by gunfire and multiple shell casings were recovered, with no injuries reported, according to a Delaware State Police release.
Potential Felony Exposure Under Delaware Law
Under Title 11, Section 604 of the Delaware Code, reckless endangering in the first degree is classified as a Class E felony when a person recklessly engages in conduct creating a substantial risk of death to another. The Smyrna shooting involved an exchange of gunfire in a parking lot during a large gathering.
The department's Special Investigations Unit took over processing the scene.
Investigators Seek Witness Video and Photos
Police are asking anyone with information, photos, or video from the gathering to contact the Special Investigations Unit at 302-653-9217. Smyrna police specifically requested digital media recorded by witnesses during the event, according to Delaware State News. Tipsters can also reach Delaware Crime Stoppers anonymously online or by phone to submit tips.
Another act of gun violence occurred in Kent County on the same day as the Smyrna shooting. A 22-year-old Philadelphia man was killed in a shooting near Dover, roughly 12 miles south of Smyrna along Route 13. What triggered the dispute among the suspects in the Smyrna shooting, whether any arrests have followed, and whether the shopping center's property management will reconsider security policies all remain open questions as the investigation continues.
