DOJ secures convictions, sentencing in college campus gun death

Two Dover men have been convicted for their involvement in a lethal shooting that occurred at Delaware State University in April of last year.

Damien Hinson, 19, and Destry Jones, 22, pled guilty to a range of charges following their indictments for the death of Camay Mitchell DeSilva.

On September 22, 2025, Hinson pled guilty to charges of Murder Second Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Conspiracy First Degree, and was sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison. On September 24, Jones pled guilty to charges of Manslaughter, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Conspiracy First Degree. Jones's sentencing will take place on December 4, 2025, following a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

"Camay Mitchell DeSilva was, by all accounts, a bright, promising, and beloved young woman," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "It is disgraceful that she was taken from those who loved her - all because two reckless individuals thought they had the right to resort to lethal violence over a petty dispute. I am deeply grateful to our DOJ staff and the Dover Police Department for their work in securing this conviction, and I hope that it offers her family the closure they so desperately deserve."

"Today Camay should be enjoying her continued journey through college and preparing herself for a great life. The stupidity of this situation, and cruelty associated with the behavior of these defendants, left an innocent bystander with no more tomorrows." said Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson. "Detective Bowman prepared one heck of a case for the DOJ. From the initial response to the subsequent investigation, this was another great example of the teamwork found inside the Dover PD and the effective collaboration between Delaware law enforcement agencies. In this instance it was, of course, our great relationship with the Delaware State University Police Department. Most importantly, our thoughts are with the extended DeSilva family today and the path they have in front of them. No family should ever have to endure a preventable tragedy such as this. Gun violence is senseless and has to stop."

On April 21, 2024, Hinson and Jones engaged in an altercation with two individuals over money. During the course of the altercation, Jones provided Hinson with a firearm, which he used to fire seven shots at those they were arguing with. The shots missed their intended targets; one of them struck and killed DeSilva. DeSilva, 18, was a prospective student who had no connection to any of the men involved in the altercation.