Police respond to shooting near University of Delaware - NBC10 Philadelphia

“People were running, screaming. They had helicopters in the sky flashing lights on people. The people were speeding down the road. It got chaotic like quick,” said witness Jayden Ngalim.

Six people sustained gunshot wounds late Thursday night on a crowded stretch of Main Street in Newark, Delaware, as Halloween celebrations near the University of Delaware descended into sudden panic.

Halloween Chaos Erupts on Main Street

The shooting erupted right after 11 p.m. along the sidewalk across from Choate Street. University officials issued an emergency alert at 11:29 p.m., urging the campus community to steer clear of the area as law enforcement converged on the scene.

Victims Hospitalized as Police Investigate

All six victims were transported to area hospitals for medical treatment. Newark police have not yet disclosed details regarding the conditions of those injured, nor have they announced any arrests.

Gunfire Mistaken for Holiday Noise

Witnesses described a scene of immediate chaos as crowds of students and local residents celebrating the holiday mistook the initial gunfire for fireworks or car backfires before realizing the danger.

Another witness, Nathaniel Davila, recounted hearing sharp sounds from his vantage point near the corner before the crowd began to scatter.

“I was right there on the corner and all we hear is like sharp pops. People, we’re thinking at first it’s the cars and then everyone starts running,” Davila said.

Corridor Closed Through Early Morning

Emergency responders and law enforcement maintained a heavy presence along the commercial corridor through the early morning hours. Main Street remained closed off to traffic and pedestrians until investigators cleared the scene, with normal operations and roadway access finally resuming around 3 a.m. Sunday.