Esteban Parra and Terri Sanginiti

The News Journal

On Thursday, police identified the 27-year-old man who was shot and killed late Wednesday night in the 100 block of East 22nd St. in Wilmington as Otis Saunders.

The incident was reported at 11:12 p.m. and the victim was taken to Christiana Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, department spokesman Cpl. Mark Ivey said. He said there were no suspects.

Saunders was born and raised in the neighborhood, said a friend who came to the scene in midmorning Thursday but declined to give his name.

Another friend, who also declined to give his name, said Saunders was "a good guy" and "I see him outside every day when I get off work."

Galen Gardner, vice president of the Northeast Civic Association, came to the scene in midmorning when he heard news reports of the slaying.

He said, "We're out here constantly showing the community unity and it's made a difference."

Habitat for Humanity is working in the area rehabilitating homes, he said. There were several young people in yellow hard hats out Thursday morning.

Gardner said, "Unfortunately we have incidents like this but we're staying on top of it. It takes time to change things. It took time to get this way. It'll take time to get out of it."

State Prosecutor Kathleen M. Jennings talked to Wilmington investigators canvassing the neighborhood shortly after midnight.

Officers with flashlights were looking on the ground and fenced yards on the block while other officers were knocking on doors and speaking to area residents early Thursday.

Officers had placed about a dozen yellow markers in the middle of the block. The evidence markers went from one sidewalk onto the street and onto the other sidewalk.

As police investigated, there were several residents on their front steps talking among themselves.

One man said he heard eight or nine shots ring out Wednesday night. He declined to give his name, saying he didn't want to "get shot next."

"They need to bring the National Guard out here," he said.

Don Mack, who sat outside of his residence early Thursday, said he was against having the National Guard in the city.

"I would like to see the police do like they used to do way back when," he said. "Walk around and talk to the individuals."

Latonya Jones laid out 15 candles in the shape of a heart near where her boyfriend was killed Wednesday night. In the center of the heart, she placed a cross. She staked a pink rose with the words "I love you" on it.

Jones said she didn't know why someone would kill her boyfriend.

"He always could make someone laugh," she said. "He was a loving person."

Jones is due with Saunders' child in November. She said it's going to be a girl.

Seconds after she left, several Wilmington police officers arrived in unmarked cars to seek answers. They knocked on doors or stopped residents walking by and asked them about the homicide. They also passed out flyers.

The crime scene was deja vu for Mack, who returned home last November as police investigated the slaying of 19-year-old Kaiheem White a block away from his home.

Wednesday's slaying follows a holiday weekend that saw a 43-year-old woman killed and two people wounded in the city. Crystal Brown was killed Sunday in the 600 block of Adams St. after leaving a nearby store with her cousins.

Police Chief Bobby Cummings on Tuesday outlined a plan for uniformed officers to walk the city's hot spots to build community relations.

Mayor Dennis P. Williams also has said there will be a renewed effort to tackle the violence and called on the community to do its part by reporting crimes and assisting police.

"This is our community, these are our folks killing each other and it anguishes me every day," Williams said at a Central Baptist Church gathering on Tuesday.

The homicide, the city's 14th of the year, is within eyesight of the Rev. Sandra Ben's church - Praying Ground Community Church. Ben has helped organize regular marches to help battle violence in a part of town that's been trying to turn some of its issues around.

The neighborhood has been under a renovation plan that began in 2000, when Greater Brandywine Village Revitalization Inc. members started working on a master plan for the area.

Report tips and any other information to the police confidential tip line at (302) 576-3990.

Contact Terri Sanginiti at (302) 324-2771 or tsanginiti@delawareonline.com.

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.