Wilmington’s Creekwood neighborhood fell quiet Monday night in the worst way. Just after 6 p.m. on Jan. 26, police rushed to the 800 block of Emory Street after a ShotSpotter alert flagged possible gunfire. Neighbors stepped outside. Patrol lights cut through the dark. A young man lay wounded.
Officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound when they arrived. Paramedics moved fast and rushed him to the hospital. Despite their efforts, he did not survive. The night ended with another life lost and another block left searching for answers.
Police later identified the victim as Dajour Ellison, a 20-year-old from Wilmington. His name spread quickly through the neighborhood and across social media. Friends and family were left stunned, trying to make sense of how an ordinary Monday evening turned fatal.
The Wilmington Police Department says the case is now being treated as a homicide. Detectives are working the scene, reviewing evidence, and following every lead they can find. For now, the details remain tight and controlled as the investigation continues.
No suspect has been named. No motive has been released. Police have not said whether Ellison was targeted or caught in a wider conflict. What they have said is that every piece of information matters, no matter how small it may seem.
Investigators are asking anyone who saw or heard anything in the area around Emory Street to come forward. Tips can be shared directly with the Wilmington Police Department or sent anonymously through the Tip 411 app. In cases like this, police say, one call can change everything.
As the case moves forward, the Creekwood community is left to grieve and wait. Another young life is gone. Another family is planning a funeral instead of a future. Police say updates will be shared as the investigation develops.
