A shooting in Delaware County helped police solve a 2018 murder that happened in Cheltenham Township, officials said Wednesday. 

Jihad Henderson, 38, of Philadelphia, was charged with murdering 29-year-old Rithina Torn in a road rage shooting in 2018 in Cheltenham Township, officials from Montgomery and Delaware counties announced. 

Henderson was already in prison when he was charged with murdering Torn on Oct. 15, 2018, at the intersection of Dewey Road and Front Street in Cheltenham Township. 

In 2024, Henderson was arrested in a shooting outside a Target in Springfield Township, Delaware County. He was convicted on several charges by a jury in the shooting, and that incident led to law enforcement charging him with Torn’s murder. 

When the 2018 shooting happened in Cheltenham Township, one fired cartridge casing (FCC) was recovered from the scene and entered in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), officials said. The NIBIN compares ballistic evidence from recovered firearms and shootings across the United States and notifies law enforcement of any potential leads. 

In November 2024, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau was notified that an FCC recovered from the shooting outside Target in Springfield was a potential match for Torn’s murder, officials said. 

An investigation by two Montgomery County ballistics and firearms experts found that the bullets from the 2018 and 2024 shootings were fired by the same Glock .40 caliber handgun owned by Henderson, according to officials.

“This arrest is a testament to the power of inter-agency cooperation and our being able to help our colleagues in Montgomery County get justice for Rithina Torn. That would never have been done without the trust, respect and dialogue between our two offices,” Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said in a statement. 

Henderson will be sentenced in the Delco shooting on June 29. He’s awaiting arraignment on first-degree and third-degree murder charges in connection with Torn’s murder. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled at a later date.

The Sussex County Land Trust announced plans for “Stars Over Sussex,” a Delaware 250 celebration scheduled for July 2, 2026, at the Cape May–Lewes Ferry Terminal in Lewes.

The waterfront event, organized in partnership with Rocking the Docks and Delaware 250, will feature live music, fireworks, food vendors, and a drone light show commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.

Organizers said the event will serve as Sussex County’s signature Delaware 250 celebration ahead of Independence Day festivities.

The evening’s entertainment will include a performance by Fleetwood Macked, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band appearing as part of the Rocking the Docks summer concert series. The event will conclude with a coordinated fireworks and drone show over the Lewes waterfront highlighting patriotic themes, Delaware history, and Sussex County’s coastal heritage.

Ticketed viewing areas will be available at the ferry terminal, though organizers noted the fireworks and drone show will also be visible from several public locations around Lewes, including Lewes Beach, Grain On the Rocks, and nearby waterfront areas.

“This partnership allows us to create something far larger and more impactful than we could independently,” said Sara Bluhm. “By bringing together Rocking the Docks, Delaware 250, community sponsors, and conservation supporters, we’re building a truly unique celebration that reflects the spirit of Sussex County and America’s 250th birthday.”

According to organizers, the drone light show will incorporate synchronized formations and animated imagery tied to patriotic themes, Delaware’s role as The First State, and local coastal culture.

The Sussex County Land Trust also recognized Dogfish Head as one of the event’s early supporters.

“Dogfish Head continues to step up for Sussex County in meaningful ways,” said Bluhm. “Their partnership and early commitment helped us elevate the vision for this event from the very beginning.”

Additional sponsorship opportunities remain available for businesses and organizations interested in supporting the event, according to organizers.

The Sussex County Land Trust expects the celebration to draw thousands of attendees from Delaware and surrounding states as part of the region’s July Fourth holiday events.

Sara Uzer is a journalist from Sussex County with more than 15 years of experience as a writer, editor, and community advocate.  She started her career in Washington, DC and has lived in Sussex County for the past five years.