Interfaith service honors Kadir Skinner as family demands answers in shooting

WILMINGTON, DEL. - Loved ones and civil rights leaders gathered at Shiloh Baptist Church in Wilmington on Monday for an interfaith service to honor 19-year-old Kadir Skinner, who was fatally shot by a Wilmington police officer on June 24.

Attendees gathered to remember Skinner while pushing for truth, transparency and justice.

What we know:

Skinner’s family sat in the front row as family representative Lisa Flowers spoke to their grief: "It has been 61 days since the untimely death of Kadir—61 days of heartbreak, 61 days of unanswered questions and 61 days of trying to understand how someone we love so deeply is no longer with us."

The service served as both a memorial and a rallying point, with leaders and attendees reaffirming that Skinner’s life mattered and that the push for accountability will continue.

The backstory:

According to investigators, a Wilmington police officer shot Skinner after he allegedly pointed a gun into a crowd near 24th and Jessup Streets and then at officers.

Police released body camera footage the following month showing an officer pursuing Skinner, and officials stated a loaded handgun was recovered at the scene.

However, Skinner can be heard on the video stating he did not have a weapon. Family attorneys maintain that Skinner was running from a dog and did not realize police were chasing him when he was shot in the back.

What they're saying:

Flowers acknowledged the ongoing investigation while emphasizing the family's agony: "We understand that investigations and legal processes can take time, but we also understand the pain of a family that has been left waiting."

Throughout the service, attendees chanted, "Nothing will solve this moment until somebody tells the truth," and, "What do we want? Just tell the truth."

National civil rights leader Bishop William Barber II also addressed the crowd, advising the family to rely on their legal team while urging faith leaders to maintain pressure on public officials.

"The family must pay strict attention now to their attorneys," Barber said. "They have top, nationally renowned civil rights attorneys who will push and dig to find out what happened. The clergy has a responsibility to demand the truth, stay on the leadership and keep pushing. Tonight is not an end; it's a beginning."

What's next:

The investigation into Skinner’s death remains ongoing. Community members and civil rights leaders pledged to press for answers, though officials have not yet announced when additional details or formal findings will be released.

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