DOVER — A Dover man was arrested after he threatened his wife and child with a gun, state police said Monday. John W. Kemp, 34, allegedly assaulted his wife and then retrieved a gun and spoke of killing her, leading to misdemeanor and felony charges.

According to state police spokesman Master Cpl. Gary Fournier, a 911 call was made from a home in the 2000 block of Kitts Hummock Road Sunday around 4:40 p.m. The caller stated a man was shooting a firearm and threatening his wife and daughter, who had fled to a neighbor’s house, police said.

John W. Kemp

When officers arrived at the location, Mr. Kemp allegedly ran from the road into his house while firing a gun into the air.

Delaware State Police troopers, as well as a Dover Police Department K9 unit and a state police helicopter, arrived on the scene and closed Kitts Hummock Road. Police attempted to negotiate with Mr. Kemp, but he refused to surrender when troopers spotted him among bushes and tree behind his house around 5:30, Master Cpl. Fournier said.

After further discussion, Mr. Kemp dropped his firearm but did not lie on the ground, leading to police stunning him with a Taser, authorities said.

Police later determined Mr. Kemp and his wife had been in a verbal dispute when he physically assaulted her, Master Cpl. Fournier said. Mr. Kemp allegedly grabbed a rifle from outside his home and then threatened to kill his 31-year-old wife and 7-year-old daughter.

After going back outside, police said, he fired several rounds, while his wife and daughter ran from the house.

Delaware State Police say John W. Kemp had in his possession an MK99 semi-automatic rifle, which contained a fully loaded magazine. He allegedly had another loaded magazine in his pocket. (Submitted)

Police said the gun was an MK99 semi-automatic rifle containing a fully loaded magazine, and Mr. Kemp had a fully loaded magazine in his pocket.

The suspect was evaluated and treated on scene by emergency medical service personnel and then taken to Troop 3, where he was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person prohibited, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, offensive touching, two counts of aggravated menacing and two counts of terroristic threatening.

He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna on $44,250 secured bond along with a no-contact order with his wife and daughter.