On January 21, 2026, at approximately 3:30 PM, the Newark Police Department’s School Resource Officer (SRO) was notified that a Christina School District Constable had recovered a loaded firearm during a mandatory security screening for entry into a school sporting event at Newark High School.

The SRO responded and took custody of the firearm. A juvenile female was initially detained after the firearm was located inside a backpack in her possession. During the subsequent investigation, it was determined that the firearm and backpack belonged to her boyfriend, a 17-year-old juvenile male. The female had no knowledge of the contents of the backpack.

Further investigation revealed that the juvenile male had brought the firearm onto school property and transferred the backpack to the female prior to the security screening. Once the female was stopped by security personnel, the male left the area.

Additional Newark Police officers responded to the school and conducted a search for the male both inside the school and in the surrounding area. He was later located at his residence and taken into custody without incident.

The defendant was charged with the following offenses:

• Possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 21 Years of Age
• Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
• Possession of a Firearm in a Safe Recreation Zone

The defendant was arraigned before a Justice of the Peace Court #11 judge, issued $15,000 unsecured bail, and released to a parent.

On January 15, 2026, at approximately 6:15 p.m., officers assigned to the Newark Police Department Street Crimes Unit were conducting proactive patrols in the area of South College Avenue. Officers observed a vehicle traveling quickly through a business parking lot in the 1100 block of South College Avenue and then onto the roadway of South College Avenue and Welsh Tract Road.

A check of the vehicle’s registration revealed no record on file. Officers subsequently conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, later identified as Raneesha Matthews, 22, of Wilmington, Delaware.

During the investigation, officers determined the vehicle had been reported stolen in New Castle County. Further investigation revealed that Matthews had multiple active warrants and capiases from several jurisdictions.

Matthews was charged by the Newark Police Department with the following:

• Receiving Stolen Property (Value Greater Than $1,500)
• Multiple traffic offenses

Matthews also had outstanding charges from other jurisdictions, including one warrant from the Capitol Police, two warrants from the Wilmington Police Department, and multiple capiases.

Matthews was transported to Justice of the Peace Court #11 for arraignment, where she was issued $5,000 cash bail and an additional $5,050 secured bail. She was subsequently transported to Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, where she was committed.

Raneesha Matthews