Delaware State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon while troopers attempted to serve a warrant in the 11000 block of Wheatfield Road.
According to state police, the incident happened at about 1:30 p.m. on March 11, 2026, when members of the Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit, Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit, and the Special Operations Response Team responded to the property to execute a search warrant and take 60-year-old Jeffrey Mitchem into custody.
Police said the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Threat Operations Center had earlier notified Delaware State Police about threatening online posts allegedly made by Mitchem. Investigators said Mitchem also sent a State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration (S.O.A.R) Detective a photo of himself holding what appeared to be a black handgun, along with an image of a coffin. Authorities said he was also wanted by the Arlington County Police in Virginia, on a felony terroristic threatening charge.
When troopers arrived, Mitchem barricaded himself inside a camper and refused repeated commands to surrender, according to police. During negotiations, investigators said Mitchem threatened that he had a large amount of gunpowder and claimed he was holding a trigger that could detonate it. Police said he was seen spreading what appeared to be an unknown powdery substance inside the camper and kept one hand concealed when he stepped outside the door.
State police said a trooper fired a single shot, striking Mitchem in the arm. After he was shot, investigators said Mitchem threw a handgun from the camper, exited, and was taken into custody without further incident. Troopers rendered first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, and Mitchem was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit has assumed the investigation in accordance with agency policy. Investigators said the handgun thrown from the camper was later identified as an airsoft pistol designed to resemble a Walther PPS M2 firearm. A search of the camper also led to the discovery of a 6.5-inch wooden-handled hunting-style knife placed on a shelf near the entrance where Mitchem had been standing before surrendering. Police said Mitchem is prohibited from possessing a deadly weapon because of prior felony convictions. The Delaware State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit later determined the powdery substance inside the camper was not explosive material.
Mitchem remained hospitalized following the incident. He has been charged with possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, 19 counts of threatening the life of or threatening severe physical injury to a public official or public servant, and resisting arrest. Court records show he was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and turned over to the custody of the Delaware Department of Correction on $43,000 secured bond.
