At the request of the Fenwick Island Police Department, the Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit is investigating an early morning shooting in the town limits, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier.
Fournier said the incident occurred around 2:43 a.m. Friday, June 25, 2021, when a 9-1-1 call was placed to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Sussex County reporting some suspicious activity outside the residence in the unit block of West Atlantic Street. A Fenwick Island Police Officer responded to the house and observed a Jeep Wrangler on fire. The officer and victims were able to extinguish the fire before noticing some bullet holes in the siding of the house and a front window shattered. Located in the roadway in front of the home were at least six shell casings that are alleged to have been fired from a handgun, said Fournier.
Further investigation into the incident revealed four females were outside Seacrets in Ocean City waiting on an Uber when they were approached by two males. A conversation ensued and the two males offered to drive the females home. They agreed, but along the way, the females began to feel uncomfortable and asked to get let out of the vehicle prior to their home. A discussion about paying for the ride occurred and one of the victims paid the driver $35.00. The four females then went to an undisclosed location prior to going to their house for fear they might have been followed.
After feeling it was safe to go into their house, they heard someone talking outside and saw the male passenger from the vehicle walking up to the front door. Soon after, they heard some type of banging on the side of the house and thought the subjects were hitting the house with an unknown object. It was later determined to be gunshots and none of the victims were injured, said Fournier.
The subjects fled the area prior to the Fenwick Island Police officer’s arrival. The officer was able to provide a description of the suspect’s black Toyota Tundra to the EOC and Ocean City Police Department (OCPD).
OCPD located the vehicle and the two occupants were taken into custody without incident. Delaware State Police have obtained warrants on Andre J. Blakeney, 33 of Waldorf, MD and Finis A. Miles, 27 of Clinton, MD for the following charges:
Court records show that Maryland authorities are holding the pair without bond on charges of:
Blakeney:
FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE – DE
OPERATING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WITH UNAUTHORIZED WINDOW TINTING MATERIAL
CDS POSS W/INT TO DIST
CDS: POSS MARIJUANA 10 GM+
ILLEGAL POSS AMMO
Miles:
FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE – DE
CDS POSS W/INT TO DIST
POSS MARIJUANA 10 GM+C
The Maryland Court Records can be viewed here.
Delaware State Police have obtained warrants charging the pair with:
4 counts of Reckless Endangering 1st
Criminal Mischief over $5,000
Conspiracy 2nd
Criminal Trespass 3rd
The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office has also obtained warrants for Blakeney and Miles for Arson 2nd and Conspiracy 2nd.