Gunshots on New Street

This Is Not A Photo Of New Street

This is a photo of the suncoming through the trees in my own back yard. I would have gotten a photo of New Street, however, I vowed I would not go near that street again, and I meant it.

New Street In Dover Delaware

It was a familiar route down Division Street, that people took all the time. It did connect with some bad areas and streets, but normally you would just keep going.

If you lived in the Dover area, you would just remember when it was a kinder, gentler place and glance and keep going.

September 30,2024

It was like any other day, and we had to go to Food Lion, because it was the only place that had my Yasso frozen yogurt bars.

The trip was ordinary, and we had made this trip many, many times before. But this day was different, very different.

What Happened Between 2pm-3pm

We were coming back from Food Lion, with the yogurt bars in a bag. We got to the place where Division Street connects with New Street, and we heard a pop-pop-pop. Then we saw three children running, and they ran out of New Street and on to Division Street, right in front of our vehicle. I yelled at my husband to not hit the children, that their parents would own our home. However, really I did not want the children harmed anyway.

It is strange how you think of things in the moment and how you view them afterward.

Afterwards I thought what if the bullets strayed, and what if they hit our vehicle. I thought of all the things that I hadn't gotten settled before I leave this world. It is a strange phenomenon.

Did I call The Police

No, I didn't call the police that day, and after I thought about it, I was just glad that we didn't die in gun violence. Nine years ago, my son was murdered and shot twelve times in the head and upper torso, so I couldn't believe it could happen again.

What Did I Do

I messaged the detective that worked on my son's murder case through facebook. We were not good friend or anything, but I thought since he knew the Deputy Chief of Police of the Dover Police Department, that was a good place to start.

He responded back the next day, that he did talk to the Deputy Chief of Police, and the Deputy asked him, what we were doing in that part of town anyway??

I guess that said it all. I didn't call the police originally, because my relationship with law enforcement was not always positive,------I was right.

I Did Call To Confirm

I did call the Dover Police to confirm, and the dispatcher told me that there was indeed an incident on New Street in Dover, Delaware between 2-3 pm on September 30,2024.

I Wonder If Law Enforcement Knows

I do wonder if law enforcement knows exactly the feeling they leave the public with. I wondered however, at that very moment is this why people have less than an optimal feeling for law enforcement.

My Opinion

If you have read any of my stories about my days looking for the killer of my son, it will tell you I told the people in that area one thing. "If you want the job done right, do it yourself."- I was right.

Also, to be fair, I have met law enforcement officers of every statue. Those who really take their job seriously, those that are extremely full of themselves and lazy, and those who participate in scams and crooked cops.

They Come In All Shapes And Sizes

In the world today, do not depend on law enforcement, depend on yourself. We won't be going down Division Street any longer, and we will pick up what we can't get on Amazon or the Dover Force Base commisary.

Do You Know Where The Bad Areas Are Where You Live ???

If you do stay away from them, if you don't find out where they are.

The Life You Might Save--Might Be Your Own

This article was published by my wife, Susan Payton on Medium on October 4, 2024.