A 22-year-old man from Dover has been found guilty of the 2023 murder of Frederick Tolson and the attempted murder of three others in a series of shootings that took place in December 2023.
On May 13, 2025, a jury in Kent County Superior Court convicted Jaquan Fletcher on all charges, including one count of Murder in the First Degree, three counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, and four counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Additionally, during a separate proceeding without the jury, Fletcher was found guilty by the judge for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition due to a prior conviction. The case was investigated by the Dover Police Department with help from the Delaware State Police High Tech Crimes Unit.
Attorney General Kathy Jennings stated: “Gun violence has no place in our communities, and yet its shadow has lingered, never far from our doors.” She credited the hard work and dedication of DOJ staff and law enforcement partners for their efforts in addressing such incidents. "Still, nothing can bring back the life that was lost or undo the trauma wrought upon the other victims and their loved ones," she added.
Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson commented: “Dover is a safer place with a convicted Jaquan Fletcher locked up where he should be.” He expressed sympathy for Tolson's family as they continue their grieving process. Johnson praised his team’s work: “They put together a case that combined one of the best pieces of emerging technology with sweat equity found in old-fashioned police work.”
In December 2023, Fletcher committed three shootings across Dover. On December 2nd, he shot a 45-year-old male at 1450 Forrest Avenue; on December 8th, he wounded a 25-year-old male near Village Drive and Quail Hollow Drive; on December 14th, he killed Frederick Tolson while also injuring a 59-year-old male at Ann Avenue. There were no known connections between Fletcher and any victims.
Fletcher's sentencing is set for August 12, 2025. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of life plus 52 years and could receive up to four life sentences plus an additional 116 years in prison.