(Delaware City, DE 19706) Last Monday evening (Oct 11th), patrol officers from the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to the boat ramp in Delaware City for the report of gunshots being fired.
When the officers arrived, they learned that a 23-year-old male and a 53-year-old male were removing their boat from the water at the boat ramp however the ramp was blocked by a maroon minivan. As one of the victims was attempting to back the trailer down the ramp, he asked the occupant of the minivan to move it out of the way so he could load the boat. The subject moved the minivan, then returns to the boat ramp and began shooting.
The victims then fled the scene leaving the boat and when they returned with the officers, they found multiple bullet holes in the boat’s hull.
Less than an hour later, additional patrol officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Schooner Lane in the community of Dickerson Farm, Middletown, for the report of a burglary in progress. As the officers were driving to this location, multiple additional calls to 911 were made stating that this incident was now a shooting and the suspect was still at the scene.
While the officers were enroute to the scene, they received updated suspect information from dispatch. When they arrived, they saw a maroon minivan parked in the driveway start up. They were then able to take the white male driver into custody.
As they were taking him into custody, they found that the driver, a 35-year-old male named Brandon Christian, to be possession of a firearm.
The officers then learned that Christian forced entry into the home through a locked door and then confronted the two homeowners. An argument ensued and he then fired multiple gunshots at the homeowners. One of the bullets struck the female in the hand and the suspect then chased the victims to the second floor. Christian then attempted to flee the residence as he heard homeowners on the phone with 911.
On the way out of the residence, the suspect picked up the victims’ dog. While he was carrying the dog he critically assaulted it and placed it inside of the minivan. Then as he was starting the minivan to leave, he was apprehended by the officers.
Detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police Criminal Investigations Unit arrived at the scene and assumed the investigation. The detectives’ investigation revealed that these two incidents were committed by the same suspect, however, were otherwise unrelated.
Christian was transported to police headquarters and charged with two counts of felony Attempted Murder 1st Degree, one count of felony Burglary 1st Degree, two counts of felony Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, two counts of Reckless Endangering 1st Degree, one count of felony Aggravated Menacing, one count of felony Cruelty to Animals, and one count of misdemeanor Criminal Mischief.
He was arraigned by the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas and held in lieu of $402,000 cash-only bail.
If you have any information regarding either one of these investigations, please contact Det Christopher at (302)395-8110 or Eric.Christopher@newcastlede.gov or call the New Castle County Police non-emergency number at 302-573-2800. You can also submit a tip via our website athttp://www.nccpd.com. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or visit us on Facebook (IM) at New Castle County Division of Police.
Additional charges stemming from the boat ramp incident are forthcoming.
Due to the nature of the offenses and complexities of this investigation, the release of this information was delayed. Once it has been determined that there is no threat to public safety, from time to time this step is taken to protect the integrity of the investigation. The Division would like to thank the members of the community for their patience and understanding.
