DOVER — A 22-year-old Dover man was charged with first-degree attempted murder after his mother and her boyfriend were shot outside a residence early Thursday afternoon, police said.

Within two hours of the alleged incident at approximately 1:50 p.m., Emory O. Cannon, of the 200 block of Presidents Boulevard, was taken into custody in the Wawa parking lot at 1450 Forest Ave., according to Delaware State Police.

Emory O. Cannon

Authorities said the incident occurred in the unit block of Washington Place in the Capitol Park development.

Troopers responded to a shots-fired report and found two wounded people had been driven to Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital in a privately owned vehicle, spokesman Master Cpl. Gary Fournier said.

A 41-year-old woman and 31-year-old man were contacted at the hospital. Troopers were told the woman allegedly had argued with her son outside the residence before the confrontation turned physical, according to authorities.

Police found that the mother’s boyfriend then allegedly stepped between the combatants, which escalated the situation into a wrestling struggle between the two men against a car in the driveway.

Authorities alleged Mr. Cannon pulled a handgun from his pants and shot at the man, hitting him several times in the chest and arm, police said in documents.

Mr. Cannon’s mother fell to the ground after being struck once in the right leg, authorities said.

A friend who was inside the residence when the fight occurred drove the wounded people to the hospital. Police said Mr. Cannon fled the area on foot.

After apprehension, police said Mr. Cannon was transported to Troop 3 and charged with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by person prohibited.

He was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court 2 in Rehoboth Beach, and then held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna on $223,000 cash bond.

A preliminary court hearing was scheduled for Friday.

In court papers, police said several .40 caliber shell casings were found in the driveway and street and “a large amount of blood was also observed on the driveway.”

Police said in documents that “bullet holes on the passenger side and front window of the vehicle” were detected.

Police said the wounded 31-year-old man was admitted to the hospital in serious condition. While the 41-year-old woman’s admission status was unknown, authorities said her injury was not considered to be life threatening.

State police said the firearm used in the alleged incident has not been recovered, and authorities encouraged the public to call in tips to Delaware Crime Stoppers (800) TIP-3333 or at www.tipsubmit.com.