On December 22, 2024, at about 8:21 p.m., Delaware State Police responded to a shooting at the Budget Inn, 3 Memorial Drive, New Castle. Officers found 49-year-old John Pipkin of Wilmington in the motel’s rear parking lot with an apparent gunshot wound; he was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Detectives say Pipkin was shot during a robbery in the rear parking lot, and the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is treating the death as a homicide linked to that robbery.

Through investigation, detectives identified 30-year-old Marvin Clifford of North Charleston, South Carolina, as a suspect. He was taken into custody on December 23, 2024, charged at Troop 2 and arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 on counts including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and carrying a concealed firearm; he was committed on $1,110,000 cash bond. Investigators say the case remains active and no other suspects have been named.

If anyone saw the robbery or has information about the shooting outside the motel, please come forward.