On December 9, 2025, around 11 a.m., Wilmington Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire at Hanover Landing Apartments on 3427 Wilshire Boulevard, discovering 40-year-old Delonte Reed and his 46-year-old wife Eureka McDonald deceased inside their unit from multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigators quickly classified the incident as a domestic violence-related murder-suicide, with McDonald identified as the perpetrator who took her own life after fatally shooting Reed. The couple, married just five months earlier in July, had moved into the apartment only a month prior, amplifying the shock for neighbors and colleagues.
Delonte, a lifelong Wilmington resident, grew up in the city’s resilient coastal communities, channeling his early experiences into a steady career in healthcare. He worked in the patient services department at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where his approachable demeanor and reliability earned praise from coworkers. Friends described him as the type who brightened shifts with easy conversation, reflecting a professional life built on empathy and dependability.
Family formed the core of Delonte’s world, especially in the fresh chapter with Eureka, whose recent union promised new beginnings after years of single life. Though details of children or extended kin remain private, his recent marriage highlighted a devotion to building lasting bonds amid Wilmington’s tight-knit neighborhoods. Colleagues noted his excitement for this milestone, often sharing stories of their honeymoon plans during breaks at work.
Delonte’s lifestyle balanced healthcare demands with grounded joys, including weekend outings along the Cape Fear River that refreshed his spirit. He enjoyed casual fishing trips with friends, pursuits that offered quiet reflection in North Carolina’s Lowcountry charm. These habits revealed a man who valued simplicity, blending long workdays with moments of connection that strengthened his community ties.
As Wilmington processes this profound loss, the department’s ongoing probe underscores the hidden strains of domestic strife, with no further suspects involved. No funeral arrangements for Delonte have been announced publicly as of December 12, 2025, leaving space for private grieving. His legacy of warmth endures, a reminder of love’s fragility in the face of unseen turmoil.
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