Man dies after fight at party, family wants answers

A 20-year-old man was found unconscious and later died Sunday outside a home near Odessa after he fought another man at a party, New Castle County police said Monday.

Police did not identify the person who died, but friends and family identified him as Ty Sawyer in a flurry of shocked posts on Twitter and Facebook.

On Monday night, a crowd of more than 150 people gathered in Silver Lake Park in Middletown around two trees that were decked with photos of Sawyer. Stuffed animals and candles sat at the foot of the trees and some in the crowd held small candles.

Those in attendance were silent other than some crying sniffles as family members prayed, supported by group hugs.

Police have not charged the man with whom Sawyer allegedly fought and did not identify him or the hosts of the party.

Both Sawyer and the person he fought with were party guests, Officer First Class Tracey Duffy Told the News Journal.

"The two agreed to fight," Duffy said.

Police don't know the nature of the dispute.

A 911 call about 2 a.m. Sunday reported an unconscious person in the 200 block of E. Bradford Court in the Misty Vale Farm neighborhood off Bayview Road in the Boyds Corner area north of Odessa.

Police and paramedics found witnesses performing CPR on the unconscious 20-year-old, Duffy said. Paramedics took over resuscitation efforts and transported him to Christiana Hospital, where he later was pronounced dead, Duffy said. His time of death was not disclosed.

Police quickly labeled their case "a death investigation."

Duffy told The News Journal on Sunday that "it's not a homicide."

Detectives are continuing their investigation and awaiting results of an autopsy, Duffy said.

A friend of Sawyer's started a fundraising campaign on the website GoFundMe that had raised more than $600 by Monday evening to help pay for his funeral costs.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the New Castle County Police Department at (302) 573-2800, give tips at www.NCCPD.com, on the department's Facebook page or using its smartphone app, available for free download for all iPhone and Android smartphones.

Tips also may be given through Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 orwww.tipsubmit.com.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware. Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@delawareonline.com, 324-2428 or on Twitter @TNJ_malbright