Smyrna- Delaware State Police are conducting a double homicide investigation that occurred Tuesday morning at two separate locations in Smyrna, according to police.
Officials said on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at approximately 10:26 a.m., troopers responded to assist Smyrna Police Department with a subject shot in the parking lot at Smyrna Middle School located at 700 Duck Creek Parkway, Smyrna, DE 19977.
Upon arrival, it was determined that a 38-year-old female victim and a 47-year-old male suspect arrived at the school together in the wife’s vehicle to pick up their daughter for a medical appointment, according to police. The couple had a verbal exchange outside of the car which led to the male suspect pulling the victim back into the vehicle where he produced a weapon and shot the victim. The 38-year-old female victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene.
The suspect fled the scene alone in the vehicle and then switched into another vehicle that was registered to him parked nearby. Troopers located the suspect’s vehicle at approximately 11:02 a.m. in the area of Route 13 and Route 42 and a pursuit ensued. The suspect fled into Maryland and ultimately shot himself and crashed near Galena, Maryland. The suspect was transported to a Maryland area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
During the course of the investigation, troopers obtained information there could be a second victim who was an acquaintance of the 38-year-old female victim. With the assistance of Smyrna PD, officers responded to the 800 block of McLane Gardens, Smyrna to check on the welfare of a 21-year-old female. Officers located the second female victim inside of her residence with apparent gunshot wounds. The 21-year-old victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The bodies have been turned over to the Division of Forensic Science where an autopsy will be performed to determine the manner and cause of death.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit and Smyrna Police Department is continuing their investigation into this suspected murder/suicide incident and there is no concern for public safety. No motive has been established for this incident.
Police said the names of the victims and the suspect are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Breaking Report
Just before 10:30, Tuesday morning crews responded to the parking lot of Smyrna Middle School located at 700 Duck Creek Pkwy.in Smyrna for reports of a shooting.
Initial reports from the scene indicate the one person, not a student, was shot multiple times and succumbed at the scene. The Superintendent of the Smyrna-Clayton School District sent out a robocall alerting parents that a person was shot in the parking lot of the Smyrna Middle School. He went on to tell parents that no students were involved and that the school was on lockdown as a precaution.
Shortly after officials began arriving at the scene many of them quickly left the scene to join a pursuit of the shooting suspect. It’s not clear where the pursuit started, however, the chase made its way down Route 13 into Dover. It continued west on Route 8 before traveling into Maryland.
Once across the state line, Maryland authorities joined in the chase and began alerting officers ahead of them. Maryland dispatchers alerted their officers that the suspect was wanted for a domestic-related murder out of Smyrna. As the chase progressed through Barclay, then Chestertown officers began reporting that the subject was running other cars off the road.
The suspect continued through Chestertown along Flatland Road before heading north on Maryland 298. The chase continued on to Maryland 213. As the suspect approached the town of Galena dispatchers alerted officers that area schools had been placed on lockdown. Officers then prepared to lay down stop sticks just south of Galena.
Just as those reports came out officers reported a 10-50, Maryland’s police code for a crash. It’s not clear if the suspect hit the stop sticks. As the officers approached the vehicle they reported that it had struck a tree and that the suspect was on foot. A Delaware State Police helicopter that had been calling the chase for ground officers from the beginning began to search the wooded area near the road. As officers approached the vehicle they found the suspect inside and reported that he was suffering from a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound. The suspect was then life-flighted to a Baltimore-area hospital by Maryland’s Trooper 6.
