Za’Quan Blackwell, a 19-year-old African American male from Chester, Pennsylvania, was killed on September 14, 2022, after a child-custody exchange in Wilmington, Delaware turned violent. Police and prosecutors said the shooting happened late that afternoon on the 900 block of North Spruce Street, where officers responded around 5:38 p.m. and found Blackwell suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was taken to Christiana Hospital, but he died from his injuries.
Investigators later described the confrontation as beginning when Ah’Kee Flonnory drove Armani Rogers to meet Blackwell for the exchange of a child Rogers shared with him. During the encounter, an argument broke out. Rogers sprayed Blackwell with pepper spray and returned to the vehicle. Blackwell then approached the driver’s side and began speaking with Flonnory. According to prosecutors, Flonnory extended a handgun out of the window and shot Blackwell twice.
Two people were arrested within days of the killing. Ah’Kee Flonnory, of Wilmington, was initially charged in connection with the fatal shooting, including murder-related charges, and was held on more than $1 million cash-only bail. Armani Rogers, of New Castle, was also taken into custody and charged in connection with the assault. Early police reports said both were arrested without incident.
The case later moved from arrest to conviction through guilty pleas. On February 2, 2024, Flonnory pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Rogers pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. Prosecutors said the pleas were tied directly to the assault and fatal shooting of Blackwell, and Delaware officials credited Wilmington Police detectives and prosecutors for bringing the case to that point.
Rogers received a sentence of eight years in prison, suspended for one year of probation. At the time Delaware officials announced the guilty pleas, Flonnory was awaiting sentencing by a Superior Court judge. The case closed with both suspects admitting roles in the confrontation that began as a custody exchange and ended with Blackwell fatally shot in Wilmington.
