By Craig Anderson

DEWEY BEACH — An investigation into the deadly police shooting of a 21-year-old Milford man after he allegedly ran from police continued Sunday.

Delaware State Police spokesman Senior Cpl. Jason Hatchell said he understood the public’s current frustration in wanting to learn more about the incident.

Investigators continued to evaluate evidence connected to the incident early Saturday in which a pursuing Dewey Beach Police Department officer fired a round that fatally struck the man in the upper torso. Cpl. Hatchell said DSP investigators, joined by the Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust, “are doing everything to ensure this investigation is completed as fast and accurate as possible.”

DSP held a news conference early Saturday afternoon and released some details.

The chase began when Dewey Beach PD officers arrived at the Starboard Restaurant at approximately 2:23 a.m. for a report of a man with a handgun. The man fled as officers tried to contact him, and he was later shot in the area of an alley on Saulsbury Street, police said. The man continued to flee and was then found unconscious behind a commercial building in the 2100 block of Coastal Highway, police said. Officers made lifesaving efforts before the man was transported to Beebe Healthcare in Lewes, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said a handgun was located in the area where the Milford man was found unconscious.

Public identification was pending notification of next of kin.

The officer, a 1 1/2-year member of the Dewey PD, was placed on standard administrative leave with pay and benefits pending the outcome of the investigation, authorities said.

DSP asked anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have video surveillance footage to call Sgt. Stephen Yeich of the DSP homicide unit at 302-741-2703. Private messages can also be sent to the DSP’s Facebook page. Delaware Crime Stoppers can also be reached by calling 1-800-847-3333 or online at delaware.crimestoppersweb.com

Since 2020, the Delaware Attorney General's Office has investigated 10 other deadly use-of-force incidents involving police officers, none who were determined to be criminally liable. Dates, locations and agency involved include:

• March 25, 2021, Seaford, Delaware State Police

• Jan. 13, 2021, Wilmington, New Castle County Police Department

• Dec. 30, 2020, Viola, Delaware State Police

• Dec. 12, 2020, Wilmington, Pennsylvania State Police

• Dec. 10, 2020, Rehoboth Beach, U.S. Marshals Task Force

• Aug. 30, 2020, Claymont, New Castle County Police Department

• May 8, 2020, Bear, Delaware State Police

• April 12, 2020, Wilmington, Wilmington Police Department

• March 5, 2020, Wilmington, Wilmington Police Department

• Jan. 5, 2020, Milford, Milford Police Department

Additionally, investigation into a  shooting by a Delaware State Police trooper on Nov. 19, 2021 remains under investigation. The person involved suffered a non-life threatening injury.

No officers in the Dewey Beach Police Department have been involved in a deadly use-of-force shooting since at least mid-October 2005, according to the AGs list of investigations.