Kaidr Skinner

Jun 25

Written By M T

19 years old · Wilmington, Delaware · June 25, 2026

Who he was

Kaidr Skinner was 19 years old and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, in the neighborhood near East 24th and Jessup streets — a residential community he knew well, surrounded by people who knew him. His sister Aniyah Clark described him as "an intelligent, strong young man." His mother, Rashai Skinner, was a hospital worker. On the night of June 25, she was working a shift at the hospital when a trauma call came in — and she learned it was her son. She arrived at the family gathering the next day still wearing her hospital scrubs. His father Durrell Dollard said: "My son is gone. The officer that shot my son gets to go home."

What happened

At approximately 11:12 p.m. on June 25, 2026, Wilmington Police officers were monitoring a large crowd gathered near East 24th and Jessup streets. According to police, officers saw Kaidr Skinner exit a nearby residence with a loaded handgun pointed toward the crowd. Officers approached him, he fled on foot, and during the pursuit an officer fired, striking him. Skinner was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police say a loaded handgun was recovered and that no officers were injured.

The family contests every material element of this account. His father said Kaidr was running away from a police dog when he was shot. Witnesses told the family he was unarmed and part of a large group that began running when police deployed a dog. His father said Kaidr was shot in the back. His sister Aniyah Clark, a nurse, raised a specific concern about what happened after the shooting: "We don't know what took place from the scene in the police car to the hospital. I don't know if my little brother had a fighting chance." Community members at the scene said they saw officers picking up spent shell casings and placing them in their pockets, and that Skinner was handcuffed and placed in a police vehicle after being shot rather than being transported by ambulance.

When Dollard went to police after the shooting, identified himself as Kaidr's father, and asked what happened — he says an officer maced him.

Contested record

The family's account directly disputes the official narrative on multiple points: whether Kaidr had a gun, whether he pointed it at anyone, whether he was shot in the back while running, whether proper medical care was rendered after the shooting, and whether officers tampered with evidence at the scene.

Pastor Derrick Johnson, speaking at the community gathering, said: "One of the reasons this particular shooting created such an outcry in the community is because this officer is known to the community — and not in a positive way."

The Wilmington police chief declined to speak with NBC10 about the family's concerns. Body camera footage has not been released. The officer has not been named.

The Delaware Department of Justice stated: "Kaidr Skinner was just 19 years old, with his entire life ahead of him. His family deserves answers as to why he was shot in the back by someone sworn to protect and serve. We will conduct a thorough investigation into the facts surrounding Kaidr's death and demand the transparency and accountability that every family deserves."

The Wilmington City Council released a statement acknowledging: "Our community is grieving. A young life has been lost, a family is experiencing unimaginable pain, and many residents are feeling sadness, anger, uncertainty, and a desire for answers."

Legal process

June 25, 2026 — Kaidr Skinner, 19, shot and killed by a Wilmington Police officer near East 24th and Jessup streets during a foot pursuit. Transported to hospital by police vehicle, not ambulance, per family account. Pronounced dead. Officer placed on administrative leave.

June 26, 2026 — Family gathers publicly. Mother Rashai Skinner and father Durrell Dollard speak out, demanding body camera footage and a meeting with the police chief. Community members and Pastor Derrick Johnson raise concerns about the officer's conduct history.

June 26, 2026 — Wilmington City Council releases statement acknowledging community grief and calling for transparency.

June 26, 2026 — Delaware Department of Justice releases statement confirming it is investigating and requesting any citizen video.

As of June 28, 2026 — Investigation ongoing. Officer unnamed and on administrative leave. Body camera footage not released. No charges filed. Delaware DOJ review in earliest stages.