Do you know who killed Donminico \Coco\ Melton in 2006? Donminico E. Melton, known affectionately as “CoCo,” was a 35-year-old Black male whose life was taken in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 11, 2006. Although the requested date was June 11, the online source information located lists his death as July 11, 2006. He was born on January 18, 1971, and was remembered by loved ones as someone who lived fully, loved his family, and brought energy into the lives of people around him.
The shooting happened shortly after midnight, at about 12:30
a.m., in the 500 block of North Monroe Street. Wilmington police responded to reports of a shooting and found three people suffering from gunshot wounds. Donminico was still alive when first responders reached him, and he was taken to a hospital, but his injuries were too severe. He later died from the gunshot wounds.
Beyond the brief police account of the violence, the available memorial information gives a fuller sense of who Donminico was before that night. Family described him as fun-loving and deeply connected to the people around him. He enjoyed fishing, board games, riding his bike, traveling, spending time with relatives, and attending his children's track races and football games. He also had a special love for animals. His obituary named his parents, Margaret Melton of Wilmington and Donald E. Melton of Staten Island, and listed his children as Sakura, Donminico Jr., Domonique, and Mya, while also noting that he was a special father figure to Daja and Eric.
His death left a large family and community grieving. He was survived by sisters, a grandmother, a lifelong companion, and many extended relatives and friends. A Janazah and Muslim burial were performed in Chester, Pennsylvania, the day after his death, followed by a memorial celebration in Wilmington.
The Wilmington Police Department continues to list Donminico Melton's killing as a cold case. The public case summary does not name a suspect or suspects, and the online sources located did not show any arrests, charges, trial proceedings, or convictions tied to his murder. The case appears to remain unsolved, with investigators asking anyone who has information about the shooting to contact the Wilmington Police Department Cold Case Unit or Delaware Crime Stoppers.
