New Castle – The Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit is continuing to investigate the incident that occurred yesterday on Airport Road, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier.
Fournier said at approximately 1:26 p.m. Wednesday, October 27, 2021, the New Castle County Emergency Operations Center was contacted by OnStar® in reference to a stolen motor vehicle they were tracking entering Delaware on Interstate 95 from Maryland. Information obtained from OnStar® was that it was a white 2018 GMC Terrain and RECOM was able to confirm that the small SUV was stolen out of Vidalia, Georgia.
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Around 1:40 p.m. troopers stationed out of Troop 6 located the GMC driving northbound on I95 in the area of SR896 and began following at a safe distance due to the operator possibly carrying a weapon. At the same time, OnStar® was beginning the process of remotely slowing the vehicle down. As the vehicle began to slow and come to a stop in the area of SR 7, troopers observed the driver, and sole occupant, holding a gun. The driver was able to continue to drive northbound on I95 at approximately 5 mph and turned onto the Airport Road interchange where a trooper positioned a patrol vehicle across the northbound lanes of travel, south of SR141, in an attempt to block the SUV from continuing any further and maintain the safety of the general public.
The SUV collided with the unoccupied police cruiser at approximately 5 mph and came to a stop. Troopers then began communicating with the driver who could be seen holding a handgun. At approximately 2:00 p.m. a gunshot was heard coming from the GMC Terrain. Troopers continued to communicate with the operator and heard another gunshot inside the vehicle. Within ten minutes of the second gunshot, the driver crawled out the passenger’s side window, unarmed, and was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle revealed a 9mm pistol and two spent shell casings.
The 34-year-old Statesboro, Georgia man was transported by New Castle County EMS to Christiana Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition with a single gunshot wound to his chest. At this time, he has not been charged with a crime so his name will not be released, said Fournier.
Airport Road was closed for approximately four hours while detectives conducted their investigation and cleared the scene.