Delaware
Vigil held for 10-year-old boy killed by driver on way home from school in Delaware
NEW CASTLE CO., Delaware (WPVI) — Family, friends and the Wilmington community held each other tight as they grieved the loss of a 10-year-old who was killed by a driver on Monday.
The crash happened shortly after 4 p.m. near the intersection of Faulkland and Centerville roads in New Castle County.
James Messick and his 12-year-old best friend were walking home from school when they were hit by a vehicle.
James died at the hospital. His friend was taken to Nemours Children’s Hospital, where he was treated and released.
New Castle County police said the 17-year-old driver was traveling on Faulkland Road and approaching Centerville Road when the vehicle went into the opposite lane and struck the children as well as a house.
Through the tears, loved ones shared their memories at Marbrook Elementary School Friday night.
“I want to remind all of his friends that although James is gone, he is still here, watching you and believing in you,” said the boy’s mother during the vigil.
READ MORE: 10-year-old dies, 12-year-old injured after being hit by car while walking home from school in Del.
10-year-old dies, 12-year-old injured after being hit by car while walking home from school in Del.
“He always stood up for us,” said James’ friend. “Once that was the last time we ever saw him, we didn’t know what to do because he was such a good friend to us, and we just don’t know what to do without him.”
After the vigil, loved ones walked down to the scene, where there was a growing memorial, and vowed to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again.
“I would like to ask the community to be aware of yourself when you’re driving,” said Adam Gibson, who is James’ stepfather. “Please be aware of your surroundings. We want to make sure that intersection gets some improvements.”
And to carry on James’ legacy.
“You’ll be in my heart forever bud,” said Gibson. “A piece of me has been taken. But I will keep moving forward for us because I know that’s what you would want us to do.”
“So when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart, every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart,” said the boy’s aunt, Angel Andrews.
Police are still investigating the incident and the driver is not facing any charges at this time.
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A teenager and a 21-year-old man were injured in a shooting in Wilmington, Delaware, Monday afternoon, police said.
The shooting happened in the area of East 23rd and North Pine streets at around 2:30 p.m., according to Wilmington police.
The 21-year-old man was placed in critical condition at the hospital, while the 16-year-old was placed in stable condition, police said.
The shooting is under investigation.
Watch people sledding at a park in Wilmington as the snow falls
People bring their sleds and gather at Rockford Park in Wilmington to hit the hills during the winter storm, Jan. 25, 2026.
The Jan. 25 snowstorm was the Wilmington area’s biggest single snowfall since the January 2016 blizzard, according to the National Weather Service.
At Wilmington Airport near New Castle, 8.3 inches of snow was recorded. On Jan. 22-23, 2016, 16.1 inches fell at the airport.
The Jan. 25 daily snowfall record at the airport, set in 2000, is 10.0 inches.
The airport has recorded 15.6 inches of snowfall this snow season. The normal amount through Jan. 25 is 7.6 inches.
Here are snow totals for other places in Delaware, according to the National Weather Service and the Delaware Environmental Observing System’s Snow Monitoring Network.
New Castle County snow totals for Jan. 25
Here is the snowfall reported, with the provider in parentheses:
- Bear: 10.0 inches at 11 p.m. (public)
- Wilmington area: 9.0 inches at 8 p.m. (public)
- Holiday Hills area, Brandywine Hundred: 8.7 inches at 9 p.m. (trained spotter)
- Pike Creek: 8.5 inches at 10 p.m. (trained spotter)
- New Castle County Airport: 8.3 inches at midnight (Automated Surface Observing System)
- Twin Oaks, Brandywine Hundred: 8.1 inches at 8 p.m. (trained spotter)
- New Castle: 8.0 inches at 6:46 p.m. (public)
- Talleyville area: 8.0 inches at 3:15 p.m. (public)
- Hockessin: 7.8 inches at 10:15 p.m. (trained spotter)
- Newark: 7.5 inches at 6 p.m. (trained spotter)
- Blackbird: 7.3 inches (DEOS)
- Talley: 6.9 inches (DEOS)
- Glasgow: 6.8 inches (DEOS)
- Port Penn: 6.8 inches (DEOS)
- Newark: 6.7 inches (DEOS)
- White Clay Creek: 6.7 inches (DEOS)
- Claymont: 6.3 inches (DEOS)
- Greenville: 6.4 inches (DEOS)
- Prices Corner: 6.3 inches (DEOS)
- Hockessin: 6.2 inches (DEOS)
- New Castle: 6.0 inches (DEOS)
Kent County snow totals for Jan. 25
Here is the snowfall reported, with the provider in parentheses:
- Dover: 6.5 inches at 9:10 a.m. (public)
- Dover Air Force Base: 6.5 inches at 11:55 a.m. (Automated Surface Observing System)
- Smyrna: 6.5 inches (DEOS)
- Woodside: 6.3 inches at 3 p.m. (trained spotter)
- Camden: 6.0 inches at 11:38 a.m. (trained spotter)
- Smyrna: 6.0 inches at 9:38 a.m. (trained spotter)
- Magnolia: 5.6 inches at 1 p.m. (trained spotter)
- Dover: 5.5 inches at 11 a.m. (public)
- Dover: 5.4 inches (DEOS)
- Harrington: 5.4 inches (DEOS)
- West Dover: 5.3 inches (DEOS)
- Frederica: 4.5 inches (DEOS)
- Woodside: 4.5 inches (DEOS)
Sussex County snow totals for Jan. 25
Here is the snowfall reported, with the provider in parentheses:
- Ellendale: 4.1 inches (DEOS)
- Milton: 4.0 inches at 8 a.m. (broadcast media)
- Selbyville: 4.0 inches at 8:39 a.m. (trained spotter)
- Lewes: 3.6 inches (DEOS)
- Milton: 3.5 inches at 11:30 a.m. (public)
- Bridgeville: 3.3 inches (DEOS)
- Dagsboro: 3.2 inches (DEOS)
- Stockley: 3.2 inches (DEOS)
- Seaford: 3.1 inches (DEOS)
- Nassau: 2.7 inches (DEOS)
- Bethany Beach: 2.3 inches (DEOS)
- Laurel: 2.3 inches (DEOS)
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