Nasir Robert Cox, a 22-year-old man from Philadelphia, was known for his radiant smile, positive energy, and the joy he brought to others. His family described him as a sweet, upbeat person with the “purest heart” who loved to make people laugh, often creating TikTok videos that went viral. Born in Philadelphia on May 7, 2004, to Fatima Sutton and Robert Earl Cox Jr., Nasir, also known as "TomCatt," was the second youngest of six siblings and was fiercely protective of his family.
He was a respectful young man who attended Macedonia Freewill Baptist Church as a child and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. A 2023 graduate of Strawberry Mansion High School, Nasir excelled in sports like football, basketball, and baseball. He was a standout success story in the City of Philadelphia's Future Track program, earning his CDL and on the path to a supervisory role. His sister, Lanai Sutton, recalled, "My brother chose the other route. He chose to make an impact. He chose to just remain positive."
On Saturday, October 10, 2026, Nasir traveled to Dover, Delaware, to visit a friend and take part in the homecoming festivities associated with Delaware State University, although he was not a student there. That evening, after the on-campus events were required to end at 6 p.m., thousands of people, including students and visitors, gathered in the parking lots of nearby shopping centers. The atmosphere grew chaotic, with more than 50 police officers from multiple agencies already in the area responding to large disturbances, fights, and reports of shots fired at various locations. At approximately 9:19 p.m., as officers were trying to control crowds, several gunshots rang out in the parking lot of the Dover Commons shopping center on the 1200 block of North DuPont Highway.
Amid the ensuing panic, officers found a 21-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his upper body. While rendering aid, they discovered a second victim, who was identified as Nasir Cox, also suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said Nasir was an innocent bystander struck in the crossfire. The Route 13 corridor was completely gridlocked with vehicle and pedestrian traffic, which would have severely delayed emergency medical responders. To give both victims the best chance of survival, officers immediately transported them to Bayhealth Kent Campus in their police vehicles. Tragically, Nasir Cox succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The second victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
The Dover Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit led the investigation into the complex and challenging case. "These arrests reflect the persistence, investigative skill, and professionalism required to bring a complex and challenging case to this stage,” said Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson, Jr. “Our investigators worked diligently to identify those responsible, develop the evidence, and coordinate apprehensions across jurisdictional boundaries.” Detectives asked the public for any information, photos, or videos from the area around the time of the shooting.
Within days, the investigation led to two suspects. On October 16, a 22-year-old man from Dover was identified as one of the suspected shooters. A team of officers from the Dover Police Department, assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service First State Fugitive Task Force and Delaware State Police, executed a search warrant at a residence on Crawford Avenue. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, and a search of the home uncovered a 9mm handgun, ammunition, and clothing that matched what was worn during the shooting. On October 21, the second suspect, an 18-year-old male, was located at a residence in Snow Hill, Maryland, by the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and was also arrested without incident. He was held in Maryland pending extradition to Delaware.
Due to a new state law, Delaware’s House Bill 59, which limits the release of names and photographs of adult defendants, authorities did not publicly identify the two men arrested. Both suspects were charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, four counts of first-degree reckless endangering, and carrying a concealed deadly weapon. As of October 2026, the case was pending in the courts.
Nasir’s family was left grappling with an unbearable loss. "It's the worst pain I've ever felt in my life," his sister Lanai told reporters. "Knowing that I will never get a chance to hug my brother again and tell him I love him." His brother, Aaron Sutton, added, "I just know he didn't deserve that." Funeral services for Nasir were held on October 23, 2026, at the Deliverance Evangelistic Church in Philadelphia, followed by a burial at Greenmount Cemetery. His family remembers him as a "beautiful soul" who could light up a room with his presence. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Dover Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 302-736-7111.
