Brian Irby

Brian C. Boyd Irby, a 21-year-old Black man known for his memorable smile, was shot and killed in Wilmington, Delaware, on Sunday, August 31, 2014. His death was part of a violent end to the summer in the city, leaving his family and two young children to navigate a future without him. Those who knew Brian, who went by nicknames like "Lil B," remembered him as a beloved father to his children, Sa'lei and Sameen.

The shooting occurred on a Sunday evening in the 400 block of North Monroe Street, a residential area in the city. Officers from the Wilmington Police Department were called to the scene at approximately 6:20 p.m. for a report of a shooting. When they arrived, they found Brian suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Christiana Hospital in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Brian succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

His death was one of two unrelated fatal shootings that occurred in Wilmington over that final weekend of August 2014, raising the city's homicide count to 19 for the year. The Wilmington Police Department launched a homicide investigation into Brian's death, but details about a motive or what led to the gunfire were not immediately released to the public. In the days following the shooting, police officially identified Brian as the victim and appealed to the community for any information that could lead to an arrest.

Although the official case record indicates that Brian's homicide has been solved, publicly accessible news archives, police releases, and court records do not contain information detailing an arrest, the filing of charges, or the outcome of any legal proceedings. The identity of the person or persons responsible for his death and the circumstances that led to a resolution in the case have not been made public. The investigation was handled by the Wilmington Police Department.

The loss was a devastating blow to Brian's family and friends. In messages shared after his death, loved ones expressed their shock and profound grief. They remembered his warm personality and the deep bonds he shared with those around him, with one friend writing, "Still can't believe it---WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU LIL B." The pain of his sudden absence was palpable in the community that knew him.

A funeral service to celebrate Brian's life was held on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at Ebenezer Baptist Church on North Claymont Street in Wilmington. A viewing was held for family and friends to pay their final respects before the service. He was laid to rest at Gracelawn Memorial Park. Years after his passing, Brian is still remembered through online memorials where friends and family continue to light candles and leave messages of love. His death remains a painful memory for those who knew him, a young life cut short just before his 22nd birthday.