Milford man dies after shot by police in Dewey Beach

By Craig Anderson
Posted 3/19/22

DEWEY BEACH - A 21-year-old Milford man died after  being shot once in the upper torso by a pursuing Dewey Beach police officer early Saturday, authorities said.

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Milford man dies after shot by police in Dewey Beach

Posted

DEWEY BEACH — A 21-year-old Milford man died after  being shot once in the upper torso by a pursuing Dewey Beach police officer early Saturday, authorities said.

Officers made lifesaving efforts at the scene before the unconscious man was transported by EMS to Beebe Healthcare in Lewes, where he was pronounced dead. Identification was pending notification of next of kin Saturday.

Other than age and hometown, DSP spokeswoman Master Cpl. Heather Pepper did not release any further description of the man. She said he would likely be publicly identified in the next day or two.

According  to  Pepper, officers attempted to contact the man at around 2:23 a.m., inside the outdoor tent area of The Starboard restaurant at 2009 Coastal Highway, which was closed. Employees had earlier called 911 to report a man with a gun, DSP said.

The man fled out of the business north on Del. 1 before turning westbound onto Salisbury Street and into an alley.

Cpl. Pepper said officers located the man and a single gunshot was fired by a one-and-a-half year veteran of the Dewey Beach PD from his departmental-issued firearm, striking him in the upper torso. A reason for the shooting had not been determined Saturday, Cpl. Pepper said. 

After the man was shot, police said he fled the area on foot. He was located behind a commercial building in the 2100 block of Del. 1. A handgun was found at the scene, police said.

The Division of Forensic Science will be conducting an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

Earlier, Dewey Beach Police had been called to the restaurant at 1:17 a.m. by employees reporting a male patron exiting the business with a gun, police said.Arriving police attempted to contact the man on a sidewalk,  Cpl. Pepper said, but he fled.

Officers chased the man on foot for approximately three blocks but lost sight of him. 

When police were called by restaurant staff the second time, the same man was found in an employee-restricted area, police said.

“The Delaware State Police would like to thank the community for their patience as we conduct this investigation,” Cpl. Pepper said at an afternoon news conference.

“We recognize this incident is alarming and we assure you that the communities safety remains a priority.”

The  Delaware Department of Justice, Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust is investigating as well.

The Dewey Beach police officers involved in the incident were not injured, Cpl. Pepper said. The officer involved in the shooting was placed on standard administrative leave with pay and benefits pending the outcome of this investigation, authorities said.

The Starboard Restaurant, on Saturday morning, posted on Facebook that it “would like our friends & family to know that we’ve learned of a police incident that took place on the street behind us in the early hours of the morning, that our staff & team were not involved and all are safe.

“Our thoughts & prayers go out to those involved. Safety for our staff & customers are always a top priority here. We are currently open for business & look forward to see folks here.”

DSP asks anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has 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.

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