(New Castle, DE 19720) Detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police have arrested five juveniles from Wilmington in reference to them shooting at a police officer during a stolen motor vehicle investigation. On Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 10:15 p.m. officers from the Special Operations Section were conducting proactive patrol along the route 9 corridor – New Castle. An officer operating an unmarked police vehicle spotted a stolen 2018 Honda Accord and began to follow the vehicle allowing time for additional officers to respond to the area. The officer continued to follow the motor vehicle into the community of Dunleith onto Hastie Drive. After the stolen vehicle turned onto Hastie Drive and without warning, occupants exited the car and fired multiple gunshots into the officer’s vehicle nearly striking him. Although the officer’s vehicle was struck multiple times, the officer was able to flee from the area. The officer requested assistance while providing additional suspect information.
Additional units arrived at the scene and pursued the vehicle into the city of Wilmington however, the suspects were able to get away. Soon after, officers with the Wilmington Police Department located the stolen vehicle and pursued the suspects however, they lost sight of the vehicle.
On Sunday March 19, 2023, officers located the stolen vehicle parked and unoccupied in the community of Cedar Tree Apartments – Wilmington. Detectives and assisting officers continued their investigation of the incident and were ultimately able to identify five suspects involved with the shooting. With the assistance of the New Castle County Division of Police Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), the United States Marshals Task Force, the New Castle County Division of Police Special Investigations Squad, and the Wilmington Police Department, all five suspects were taken into custody. The suspects were identified as:
A 17-year-old male from Wilmington
A 17-year-old male from Wilmington
A 16-year-old male from Wilmington
A 15-year-old male from Wilmington
A 14-year-old male from Wilmington
All five suspects were charged with attempted murder in the first degree, conspiracy in the first degree, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. They were arraigned by New Castle County Family Court and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center. Evidence developed in this investigation further led to the recovery of five stolen motor vehicles and two firearms.
Colonel Joseph Bloch, Chief of the New Castle County Division of Police said the following about juvenile offenders carrying firearms, “The number of young people who knowingly engage in violent crimes involving firearms is staggering. More and more, our officers are apprehending juveniles who choose to be involved in crimes where guns are being used to do harm to the citizens of our County. The members of the Division remain committed to thoroughly investigating these crimes and seeing to it that these offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent that the law allows.”
This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Any individual with information related to this incident is asked to please contact Detective Sergeant Charles Levy via email at Charles.levy@newcastlede.gov or by telephone at (302)395-8110.
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