A 13-year-old boy is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly using fireworks to attack two people on a Wilmington, Delaware street earlier this month, according to police.
The Wilmington Police Department said the incident took place on July 3, close to 10:45 p.m., near the intersection of 9th and North Pine streets. Officers say the teen, along with a group of other juveniles, targeted a 31-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman using fireworks, including a Roman candle, in what investigators describe as a deliberate assault rather than an accident.
Both victims required hospital treatment. The woman was later discharged after being examined, but the man remains hospitalized in critical condition, according to authorities. Police have not released further details on his prognosis.
Detectives worked to identify those involved in the attack, and investigators eventually named the 13-year-old as one of the suspects. He was taken into custody this past Tuesday in the 600 block of East 10th Street, police confirmed.
The boy has since been formally charged with first-degree attempted murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, and first-degree conspiracy. Given his age, he is currently being held at the New Castle County Detention Center while the case moves forward.
Police say the investigation is still active, and it remains unclear whether additional juveniles involved in the incident will face charges of their own. Authorities have not disclosed a motive behind the attack, and it is not yet known whether the victims were targeted specifically or caught in a broader altercation involving the group of teens.
The case has drawn attention for the severity of the charges brought against a minor, as well as the unusual nature of fireworks being used as a weapon in an alleged assault. Officials say more information may be released as the investigation continues.