A 22-year-old Dover man has been convicted for the 2023 killing of Frederick Tolson and the attempted murder of 3 others in a series of December 2023 shootings. 

On May 13, 2025, a Superior Court jury in Kent County convicted Jaquan Fletcher, 22, of 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.  In addition to the jury’s verdict, the judge separately found Fletcher guilty—during a simultaneous proceeding without the jury—of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition due to a prior conviction that made him prohibited from having either. The result follows an investigation led by the Dover Police Department with the assistance of the Delaware State Police High Tech Crimes Unit.

“Gun violence has no place in our communities, and yet its shadow has lingered, never far from our doors,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “Thanks to the incredibly hard work and dedication of our DOJ staff and our partners in the Dover Police Department and law enforcement throughout the state, we are answering each harrowing call, inching ever closer to prevention. Still, nothing can bring back the life that was lost, or undo the trauma wrought upon the other victims and their loved ones. We will not stop until this scourge is eradicated from our communities, and the private grief within our hearts. This was an excellent result- we continue on.”

“Dover is a safer place with a convicted Jaquan Fletcher locked up where he should be,” said Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson.  “Our thoughts are with the Tolson family today as they continue their process of grief. Perhaps this is a step toward closure and doing the best they can, while keeping the memory of Frederick alive. This case was a series of senseless, unprovoked, and cowardly acts of violence with horrible consequences. This behavior can never be tolerated. I’m so very proud of the responding Officers, the Detectives, and our law enforcement partners. They put together a case that combined one of the best pieces of emerging technology with the sweat equity found in old-fashion police work. They did remarkable work and the prosecution team did more of the same as they made their case to a jury this past week. Congratulations to the involved DDOJ members and thank you to the surviving victims and witnesses who kept faith with our system of justice.”

Throughout the month of December 2023, Jaquan Fletcher committed three separate shootings across Dover: on December 2nd, he shot a 45-year-old male in the parking lot of 1450 Forrest Avenue, wounding him in the upper body; on December 8th , he shot a 25-year-old male in the area of Village Drive and Quail Hollow Drive, also wounding him in the upper body; on December 14th,  he shot and killed Frederick Tolson, 42, while also wounding a 59-year-old male at a residence on Ann Avenue. There is no known connection between Jaquan Fletcher and any of the victims.

Fletcher is currently scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2025, where he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of life plus 52 years and a maximum sentence of up to four life sentences plus 116 years in prison.