Redefining a deadly weapon

Speigelman’s bill would more narrowly define a firearm in state law. His legislation would define a deadly weapon as a firearm, bomb, certain knives, clubs and batons, razors, a bicycle chain, slingshot and ice pick. It also defines a projectile weapon as a bow, crossbow, airbow, airgun and any weapon designed to discharge an arrow, crossbow bolt or spear.

John Taylor, a homicide prosecutor with the Delaware Department of Justice, said the agency had some concerns with the bill due to changing definitions that could cause additional litigation and the change to the definition of a projectile weapon, which currently includes more types of weapons. His testimony led to a short, heated exchange with Democratic Rep. Sean Lynn, who suggested the prosecutor’s objectors were “political.”

“It seems to be a fairly comprehensive definition,” Lynn said. “That leads me to question whether or not the argument is brought in good faith? Because for me reading it, I don’t see the basis for re-litigation here.”

The bills are now ready to be voted on in the House.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Balloons were released in memory of an 18-year-old girl who is no longer alive as dozens with heavy hearts packed the basketball courts at a park in Wilmington Wednesday evening.

“It hit us hard. It’s unexpected. She was taken to soon, from us too soon,” said Shanelle DeSilva and Dontavais Mitchell. They’re in disbelief over the murder of their daughter, Camay Mitchell DeSilva.

“I cry. Sometimes in front of people. A lot by myself. But I always tell everybody if you’re okay, then I’m okay, because I know Camay is okay,” said her father.

Dover Police say they got calls for shots fired on the campus of Delaware State University and found Camay shot just after 1:30 Sunday morning. She died at the hospital.

The university cancelled classes in the days following the shooting as police continued to investigate what happened.

Camay’s parents say she began college at Morgan State University and was planning to transfer to Del State where she applied just two weeks ago.

“Her best friend is a student there and she was just there visiting for the weekend. Like I said, she wanted to go there, so getting a feel for the campus,” said Camay’s mom, who also says her daughter enjoyed doing hair and had her own business. She was also pursing a career in computers.

“She wanted to go into the tech field and majored in computer science to work in cybersecurity. She did coding,” said her mom.

Candles lit the area surrounding pictures of Camay’s life.

Her family is heartbroken and says this could have happened to anyone on that campus.

“She had no real issues. She was good, always happy and of course she was an angel to me. She was a good kid and a lot of people will attest to that,” said her father and mother.

After the exits of two principals with long tenures, Springfield’s Delaware Elementary and Wilson’s Creek Intermediate will have new leaders next year.

The district announced Wednesday that Mark Davis II will be principal at Wilson’s Creek, succeeding the retiring Karyn Christy. She has been in the district for 22 years.

Lauren Hassell, assistant principal at Jeffries Elementary, will be the new leader at Delaware. She succeeds Stephanie Young, who will become the new principal at Hickory Hills Elementary and Middle School.

Hired by Springfield Public Schools in 2010, Hassall taught kindergarten and first grade for 11 years. She became a school community liaison at Jeffries in 2021.

She has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Missouri State University.

“I am honored and so excited to become part of the Delaware community and to support our students in finding their sense of belonging and reaching their academic potential,” Hassell said in a news release.

Davis is a School Founders Fellow with New Schools for Alabama in Macon County, where he helped create and design a charter school focused on aviation, agriculture, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and art.

According to the release, Davis has worked in small and large schools in both rural and urban areas including St. Louis and Jefferson City.

“My most exciting pursuit is to build on a legacy of academic excellence rooted in the development of knowledge through meaningful experiences; the ultimate goal of which is growing purpose-driven learners into citizens who are invaluable to our communities,” Davis said in the release.

More: ‘I don’t think I’m a hero’: SPS bus driver who fended off intruder honored by school board

He was a regional network administrator and integration manager for the KIPP Foundation and a program administrator of agriculture, food and natural resources for St. Louis Public Schools. Davis has also worked as a business instructor for Imagine College Preparatory High School in St. Louis.

Davis has a bachelor’s degree from Langston University School of Agriculture, a master’s degree from Webster University School of Business and a doctorate from St. Louis University School of Education.