Marcos Plasencia, a 31-year-old Black/African American man from Wilmington, was found dead after a single-vehicle crash on the 400 block of New Road in Elsmere on the night of December 31, 2023. Initial response to what appeared to be a traffic collision shifted when officers discovered Plasencia had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Early information indicated he was likely shot while inside his vehicle in the immediate area where it was found.

The shooting happened on New Year’s Eve, a time when nearby homes and roads are often busy, and investigators treated the timing and location as significant. Elsmere police publicly asked for help, directing tips to Detective Scot Sowden and to Delaware Crime Stoppers.

If anyone saw or heard something near the 400 block of New Road that night, please share information with Detective Sowden or Delaware Crime Stoppers.