Shots Fired Near University of Delaware Campus Following Off-Campus Halloween Party

NEWARK, Del. — Panic rippled through downtown Newark late Saturday evening, October 31, 2026 when gunfire erupted near the University of Delaware campus during Halloween night celebrations, sending crowds of students and residents fleeing into nearby streets.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:13 p.m. at the intersection of East Main Street and Choate Street, an active off-campus hub crowded with costumed revelers attending nearby parties and gatherings.

Witnesses reported hearing multiple sudden gunshots ringing out amidst the noise of late-night Halloween festivities. As the shots echoed down the commercial corridor, hundreds of individuals scattered in search of shelter, ducking into local storefronts, side alleys, and apartment entrances. Newark Police Department officers already stationed nearby for holiday crowd control rushed to secure the scene within minutes.

"The Newark Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred in the area of E Main Street and Choate Street," authorities confirmed in a statement. "Main Street remains closed from Library Avenue through Academy Street while officers conduct their investigation. Avoid the area until further notice."

The University of Delaware issued an urgent emergency alert to students and faculty shortly after the shots were reported. Campus safety officials advised everyone to stay clear of the East Main Street district and instructed students living nearby who needed help returning to their residences safely to contact the University of Delaware Police Department for escorts.

Law enforcement established a wide perimeter, cordoning off several blocks while forensic teams collected shell casings and reviewed security camera footage from neighboring businesses.

While investigators have not indicated an ongoing active threat to the surrounding community, details regarding injuries or potential suspects have not yet been fully released as detectives interview eyewitnesses.

The violence has rattled the university town, where Halloween weekend traditionally draws large crowds of students and visitors. Local officials urge anyone with video footage or information about the incident to contact the Newark Police Department as the investigation proceeds.