The Delaware State Police have updated a story that only First State Update brought you Wednesday morning. State Police say they are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Greenwood Tuesday night.
On November 28, 2023, at approximately 9:27 p.m., members of the Kent County Governor’s Task Force and Probation and Parole located 27-year-old Brian Holben of Greenwood, operating a Jeep Cherokee in the parking lot of 4937 Hickman Road in Greenwood, Lolos mini Market.
Officials said Holben is a known fugitive with multiple warrants for his arrest. After detectives initiated a traffic stop on the Jeep, Holben attempted to flee by using his Jeep to push two State Police vehicles out of the way.
Detectives then attempted to remove Holben from the Jeep, but he pointed a handgun at a detective and fired. Detectives returned fire at Holben before he fled on foot into a wooded area and, at this time, he has not been located. No one was injured as a result of this incident.
First State Update has learned that police were back out in the area searching for Holben, sources telling FSU that Troopers around the state have been sent to the area to aid in the search.
The investigation is still active and attempts to locate Holben are ongoing. Holben is wanted for Attempted Murder 1st (Felony), Reckless Endangering 1st (Felony) – 2 counts, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony), and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony).
In 2017 Holben was charged along with two other defendants with charged with Operating a Clandestine Laboratory, In February 2020 he was charged with multiple weapon and drug offenses. In July of this year, Holben was arrested after a chase for DUI and related charges.
Additional charges were added to the July incident after Troopers found a safe that was allegedly thrown out of the vehicle during the chase. Troopers said the safe contained methamphetamine, crack cocaine, heroin, and other drugs and paraphernalia.
Officials said the troopers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave per standard protocol.
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On Tuesday night, around 10:30, Hickman Road (RT. 16) west of Greenwood was the scene of a police operation that led to the road being closed overnight.
The stretch of road between Nine Foot Road and Todd’s Chapel Road was shut down following an incident near LoLo’s Mini Market. Sources tell First State Update that a white male subject fled into the woods adjacent to the market after shots were fired.
While police searched for the man they took precautionary steps to protect the community. This included evacuating several homes in the area. They also set up a perimeter and requested Delaware State Police Aviation to assist in the operation.
Hickman Road was reopened Wednesday morning, however, It’s unclear if the subject had been apprehended. It’s also unclear who was responsible for the shots being fired or whether there were any injuries.
A reader tells FSU that a vehicle that was towed from the scene had a bullet hole in its window.
This is a developing story.