New Castle County Police Detectives have signed warrants for the arrest of 57-year-old David P. Ashby for shooting his gun inside his residence while police were attempting a check on his welfare.

(Newark, Del.-19711) Yesterday(November 22) at approximately 1:00 p.m., uniform patrol officers were dispatched to the unit block of Lawrence Ave for a check on the welfare.

When police arrived on scene, gun shots could be heard coming from the area of the residence. While officers were taking cover to establish a perimeter, additional gun fire could be heard coming from inside the residence.

Investigation concluded David P. Ashby fired several shots from the interior of the residence in the direction of neighboring occupied homes. Initial reports by a local media outlet of an active shooter and officers exchanging gun fire with David P. Ashby during the incident were unfounded.

Officers did not exchange gun fire with David P. Ashby and were successively able to take him into custody after negotiations.

Mr. Ashby was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of non –life threatening injuries which were the result of a self-inflicted knife wound. Mr. Ashby will be formally charged with 2 counts of felony reckless endangering in the first degree and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.

During the standoff an officer on scene experienced an equipment malfunction resulting in his weapon discharging into the ground. This equipment malfunction is being internally investigated as a separate incident.

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