Dewey Beach, DE– Delaware State Police have announced a 21-year-old man from Milford man was shot and killed by Dewey Beach police officers at 1:17 am on Saturday.
“On March 19, 2022, at approximately 1:17 a.m., officers with the Dewey Beach Police Department were notified by employees of the Starboard Restaurant located at 2009 Coastal Hwy of a male patron exiting the establishment with a gun,” the Delaware State Police Police said. “Officers attempted to contact the individual on the sidewalk out front of the business, but he fled on foot southbound on Coastal Hwy. Officers gave chase for approximately three blocks but lost sight of him. A search was conducted in the area by officers, but they were unsuccessful in locating the subject.”
The suspect later returned to the hotel.
“At approximately 2:23 a.m., the Dewey Beach Police Department 9-1-1 Center received a call from an employee of Starboard advising the suspect had returned to the business and was located by staff inside a restricted employee-only area,” the DSP said. “Two Dewey Beach Police Officers responded and located the male who was now inside the outdoor tent area of the business. When officers attempted to contact the male, he fled from the business northbound on Coastal Hwy before running westbound on Saulsbury St and into a nearby alleyway. At that time, the pursuing officers located the male, and a single gunshot was fired by a 1.5-year veteran officer with the Dewey Beach Police Department using the departmental issued firearm. The details surrounding the shooting incident are still in the early stages of the investigation. Once information becomes available, it will be released.”
Police said, “After the male was shot, he fled the area on foot. Responding officers located the male unconscious behind a commercial building in the 2100 block of Coastal Hwy with a single gunshot wound to the upper torso. Also located at the scene was a handgun.”
Police did not immediately release the name of the decedent.