Wilmington – The Delaware State Police have arrested a 17-year-old juvenile from Wilmington and a 13-year-old from Wilmington after they led the Pennsylvania State Police on a pursuit while in a stolen motor vehicle.
On Saturday, December 12, 2020, in the early morning hours, Troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Troop M Trevose located a 2019 Ford Escape that had been reported stolen out of the New Castle County Police Department in a Carjacking incident on December 9, 2020.
They attempted to stop the vehicle, however, the vehicle fled and the pursuit was terminated. Shortly thereafter, PSP Troopers from Troop K Philadelphia, a two Trooper vehicle, witnessed this same vehicle traveling southbound on I-95 near the Philadelphia Airport and were aware of the previous pursuit.
The PSP Troopers were occupying a fully marked patrol vehicle. An attempt was made to stop the vehicle, but again the 2019 Ford Escape failed to stop and fled southbound on I-95 at a high rate of speed. A second two-person vehicle from PSP then also joined in the pursuit. As the pursuit of the Ford Escape entered into Delaware on I-95 southbound at approximately 03:32 a.m., the PSP marked units attempted to box the suspect vehicle in as they crossed the state line into Delaware. Once in Delaware, the operator of the Ford Focus (17-year-old) intentionally struck one of the PSP marked vehicles left side with their vehicles right side. It was at this time, that the PSP Trooper operating the marked unit fired one (1) round at the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle then maneuvered to the other side of the PSP vehicle appearing to prepare to strike the Troopers vehicle a second time. It was then that a second PSP Trooper in the passenger seat, fired several rounds at the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle then traveled into the center median and crashed into a berm.
The operator of the suspect vehicle fled on foot from the vehicle, however, was taken into custody by a PSP Trooper from the second vehicle. Three other passengers were also then taken into custody by PSP at the vehicle. One of these three passengers (13-year-old) was found to be in possession of a loaded Rossi .38 Special Revolver, with one live round and two fired cartridge casings. However, it is not believed that this firearm was fired during this incident.
The 17-year-old driver suffered an apparent graze wound to the left thigh and a contusion to his head. This defendant was transported to two local hospitals were he was treated and released. Neither of the other three passengers in the stolen vehicle was injured.
No PSP Troopers were injured during this incident. No DSP Troopers were involved in this pursuit or shooting incident. DSP Homicide Unit responded to the scene and investigated the incident.
The 17-year-old driver of the stolen vehicle was charged with the following:
Reckless Endangering First Degree (2 counts) (F), Possession of a Deadly Weapon during the Commission of a Felony & Receiving Stolen Property over $1,500 (F). The 17-year-old defendant was arraigned at J.P. Court 11 in the presence of his mother and was released on $4,000.00 unsecured bond.
The 13-year-old passenger in the stolen vehicle was charged with the following:
Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (F) and Possession of a Firearm By a Person Prohibited (F) (due to his juvenile status). This 13-year-old defendant was arraigned at J.P. Court 11 in the presence of his mother and was released on $2,000.00 unsecured bond.
A third 15-year-old passenger in the vehicle was arraigned on two capiases and was committed to the NCC Detention Center in lieu of $1,000.00 secured bond.
The fourth 13-year-old passenger in the stolen vehicle was not criminally charged.
