Dagsboro- The Delaware State Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a shooting that occurred last evening, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.
Jaffe said the incident occurred on March 27, 2019, at approximately 9:24 p.m., when Troopers were dispatched to Irons Lane and Old Mill Road for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, Troopers located a male subject near the roadway who had sustained an apparent gunshot wound to his upper torso.
Further investigation revealed that prior to the shooting the victim was a passenger in a vehicle along with the driver and three other males. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on Old Mill Road from Irons Lane when it was flagged down by a motorist in a Ford F-150 pickup truck, said Jaffe. The driver proceeded to stop and once the subject exited his pickup truck, words were exchanged. The four passengers, including the victim, exited the vehicle.
The driver of the Ford F-150 pull out a handgun and fired a shot, striking the victim in the upper torso, before fleeing the scene in his vehicle, according to Jaffe.
The victim, identified as a 16-year-old male from Georgetown was transported to Beebe Hospital in serious condition and later transported to A.I. DuPont Hospital.
Jaffe said Troopers were able to identify the driver of the pickup truck as 60-year-old John W. Barnhard of Dagsboro. He was located a short time later, within close proximity to the scene, Jaffe said. He was subsequently taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 4 where he was charged with the following:
Assault First Degree
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (5 counts)
Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited
Reckless Endanger First Degree (4 counts)
Barnhard was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $317,000.00 secured bond.
The case continues to remain under investigation. If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Detective Grassi at 302-365-8441. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.