A rivalry between two neighborhood groups that has been ongoing since August intensified last weekend with the shooting death of a Dover man.

    In August, a woman was shot in the back after she was caught in the crossfire of two rival groups at the Senate View neighborhood off of River Road.
 
   Since then, Lt. James Hosfelt, spokesman for the Dover Police Department, said there have been several incidents between the same rival groups from Senate View   and Capitol Park, located outside the city limits off of Route 113.
 
   “There have been fights going back and forth,” he said. “It’s an ongoing feud between two neighborhoods.”

    In the latest incident, Hosfelt said the Dover man was walking along New Castle Avenue with one group of people when some cars pulled up and the occupants fired several rounds before driving away.

    Brandon Beard was shot once in the chest and taken to Bayhealth Medical Center where he died as result of the gunshot wound.

    Police arrested Brett Hoskins, 24, of Felton and charged him with first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon during commission of a felony. They later arrested Hoskins’ brother, Tremein D. Hoskins, 22, of Felton and another man, Alonzo West, 44, of Capitol Park on Sept. 23.

    The two face the same charges as Brett Hoskins and were additionally charged with first-degree conspiracy.

    They have all been committed to Vaughn Correctional Center without bond because of the murder charges.

    Hosfelt said he doesn’t believe tensions will die down anytime soon.

    “We’ve heard rumors that there may be retaliation,” he said, adding the fear is an innocent person will get hurt.

    Delaware State Police  beefed up patrols in Capitol Park after Saturday’s shooting and Hosfelt said Dover police have increased patrols in Senate View and neighboring Capital Green.

    “We are going to try to keep patrols up in the area for the time being,” he said.

    Dover City Councilman Reuben Salters said the only thing he knows about the groups fighting is what the police have reported. He hasn’t met with any civic organizations and no other neighborhood groups have contacted him, he said.

    “We’re not sure what to do,” he said. “It seems like it’s drugs … we’re sort of at a loss right now.”

    Councilwoman Sophia Russell said most of the problem is coming from people who don’t live in the neighborhoods.

    She said she intends to talk to Salters and other community leaders about addressing the problem but that only goes so far.

    “You can talk and talk and talk but you can’t encourage these young people to stop,” she said. “I can’t do it personally by myself, it takes the whole community.”


Email Melissa Steele at melissa.steele@doverpost.com.