Why Should Delaware Care?
Delaware has rarely seen mass shooting scenes like the ones that occurred Saturday in Ellendale and Newark, injuring scores of people in crowded public places and killing a young girl.
A Seaford High School student’s life was cut short in the mass shooting that targeted a Halloween party in Ellendale, police reported Monday evening.
Love Cannon, 17, of Seaford was identified by Delaware State Police as the victim killed in the Saturday night shooting at an outdoor party.
The Seaford School District, which identified Cannon as a Seaford High senior and a member of the school’s cheerleading squad, will make grief counseling and support services available to students.
“We recognize that many students and staff members are personally impacted by this heartbreaking loss,” the school said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with her family, friends, classmates, teammates, and all those who are grieving.”
Cannon was also reportedly involved with Unique Leadership, a program that aims to build confidence and leadership skills in teen girls.
In a public post on Facebook, Cannon was also identified as an employee at the Sonic Drive-in in Bridgeville, where hours before the shooting she was “andy out, laughing and having fun with her teammates, family and friends.”
“Due to the reckless, selfish, disgusting behavior of an individual we lost one of our brightest, brilliant, hard-working, all-around amazing woman,” wrote Philip Speleos, the owner/operator of the restaurant. “Love achieved so much since starting here and was working hard to achieve even higher plateaus. Rather her life path was here or elsewhere , there was one thing for certain, her future is going to be a bright one.”
Speleos wrote that Cannon brought “guaranteed energy” to her job.
“Her quick wit, sass and confident mindset can never be replaced. It was an honor and privilege to work alongside such an amazing individual,” he said.
What happened Saturday?
Delaware state police troopers responded to a reported shooting near the intersection of North Old State Road and U.S. Route 113 in Ellendale about 10 p.m. Saturday.
There, troopers found multiple victims with gunshot wounds, including Cannon who was transported to a hospital with life-threatening gunshot injuries, where she died.
A 20-year-old man from Seaford was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening gunshot injuries, but is now in stable condition, police reported on Sunday.
Two 17-year-old boys from Selbyville, a 19-year-old girl from Ellendale, a 20-year-old woman from Seaford, a 20-year-old woman from Greenwood, a 20-year-old man from Seaford, and a 22-year-old woman from Laurel were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.
According to a preliminary investigation by DSP, an unknown suspect opened fire from a neighboring property into the crowd at the outdoor party, striking the nine victims.
The apparent scene was an empty lot next to the New Hope Recreation and Development Center, where a white event tent and a small tiki bar could be seen Sunday morning, according to Delaware Online/The News Journal.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is actively investigating this case, and anyone who attended the party or has information relevant to the investigation is urged to contact Detective B. McDerby at 302-741-2821. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
