Police are investigating a multi-jurisdictional officer-involved shooting with multiple scenes that occurred following a vehicle pursuit involving a shooting suspect that began in Wilmington.
Officials said on May 14 just before 12 p.m., members of the Wilmington Police Department’s Drug, Organized Crime and Vice Division, Uniformed Services Division and Canine Unit responded to the 300 block of North Madison Street while attempting to apprehend a suspect wanted in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on December 2, 2023 in the 500 block of West 8th Street.
The suspect, identified as a 23-year-old female, attempted to evade police and rammed multiple marked Wilmington Police vehicles before fleeing from police onto I-95 northbound into Pennsylvania.
The suspect vehicle was pursued into Pennsylvania by members of the Wilmington Police Department and the Delaware State Police.
After crossing into Pennsylvania, the suspect crashed her vehicle, and subsequently fired a gun at police. Two members of the Delaware State Police discharged their firearms during the exchange.
The suspect subsequently gained access to another vehicle and drove into the City of Chester, where she crashed into a structure. Following a home invasion, the suspect entered a third vehicle and attempted to flee. At that time, 3 members of the Wilmington Police Department, 5 members of the Delaware State Police, 1 member of the Trainer Borough Police Department and 1 member of the Chester Police Department discharged their firearms.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Yazmyn Stewart, ultimately succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Court records show that a Yazmyn M. Stewart, 23, had outstanding warrants for violation of probation, assault, and shoplifting. That same Yazmyn M. Stewart also had several past and upcoming court dates. Officials did not say if this is the same Yazmyn Stewart that was wanted in connection to the December shooting.
In 2021 WDEL reported that a Yazmyn Stewart, then 20, was accused of shooting an 18-year-old man on the 900 block of North Pine Street on October 24, 2020. Again police did not say if this was the same Stewart.
One Wilmington Police officer was transported to the hospital for evaluation of a minor injury. There are no other known injuries to first responders or members of the public.
This incident is under investigation by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.
The Wilmington Police officers who discharged their firearms have been placed on administrative duty pending the investigation, and this incident is being investigated by the WPD Criminal Investigations Division and the Office of Professional Standards.
The incident caused the closure of I-95 in both directions.