Officer Involved Shooting Near Newport

Preliminary DSP News Release: Wednesday, March 25, 2009- Officer Involved Shooting Near Newport

Location of Incident: Parking lot of Alpha Pizza, 1401 Maryland Avenue, just east of Newport, Delaware, New Castle County

Date and Time of Occurrence: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at approximately 2:43 a.m.

Suspect(s): male subject to be identified in a supplemental news release

Resume: The following news release is preliminary only as additional details will be forthcoming.

At approximately 2:43 a.m., an officer involved shooting took place in the parking lot of Alpha Pizza, just east of Newport, Delaware.

A male suspect was shot a single time in the upper body and his injuries do not appear to be life threatening.

Two State Troopers were injured during the altercation with the subject in question.

All of the involved parties were transported to the Christiana Emergency Room in Newark. The officers are expected to be released shortly and the wounded suspect has been admitted to the hospital.

Again, additional details will be released later this morning.

Update #1 DSP News Release: Wednesday, March 25, 2009- Officer Involved Shooting

Wilmington- The following incident overview outlines the details surrounding the officer involved shooting from earlier today.

At approximately 2:14 a.m., officers from the New Castle County Police Department were dispatched to an address along the unit block of North Avenue in Wilmington in reference to a violent domestic assault. When officers arrived on the scene, they learned the suspect in question had fled the residence.

At about 2:43 a.m., a Troop 6 uniformed patrol officer, and three year veteran of the department, was traveling westbound on Route 4 approaching Forest Drive. The Trooper, who was unaware of the earlier domestic incident, observed a naked male subject standing in the roadway. The officer advised the dispatch center that he would be out checking on this subject at which time he stopped his patrol car and got out.

Suddenly, and without provocation, the subject in question charged at the Trooper and began to assault him. The Trooper immediately tried to create distance between himself and the suspect and attempted to back away. The suspect continued to charge the Trooper and assault him.

The Trooper was backed up into the rear parking lot of the Alpha Pizza, 1401 Maryland Avenue. While in the rear of the location, the suspect and the Trooper continued to fight. The officer, still yelling verbal commands, used his departmentally issued OC Spray (pepper spray) in an attempt to subdue the suspect to no avail. The suspect then successfully removed the Troopers portable radio and began to beat the Trooper with it.

The suspect backed the Trooper up against a brick wall, where in fear for his life, the Trooper fired his departmentally issued service weapon twice, striking the suspect a single time in the left shoulder.

The suspect wasn’t fazed by his gunshot wound and he continued to fight and assault the officer. At this time, a second officer arrived on the scene. The back-up officer then attempted to take the suspect into custody. This officer then deployed his Taser on the suspect, however, the suspect continued to fight. The Taser was deployed a second time, which with the help of a third responding officer, the suspect was finally subdued.

Medical help was immediately summonsed for the suspect. The initial officer and the first back-up officer were also both injured. These three parties were transported from the scene to Christiana Hospital.

The initial officer was treated for a separated right shoulder, an injury to his left arm as well as multiple contusions and scrapes. The initial back up officer was treated for an injury to his right knee. Both officers were treated and released from treatment.

The suspect, who was now identified as Fabian Silvestre, 35, of Bennett Court in Wilmington, was treated for a gunshot would to his right shoulder area. He was admitted to the hospital for further observation.

After the initial investigation into the officer involved shooting, detectives learned of the facts of the original domestic altercation on North Avenue.

At approximately 2:14 a.m., Silvestre exited his residence and was standing outside. His wife went out to check on him. While the two were talking, he suddenly began to assault her, beating her about the face. She fell to the ground at which time Silvestre started to take his clothes off. He then ran away from the residence. It was about 30 minutes later that the incident involving the Trooper occurred.

Silvestre’s wife was transported from the North Avenue address to Christiana Hospital where she was treated for a fractured nose, concussion as well as other multiple other contusions.

A New Castle County Police investigator obtained arrest warrants charging Silvestre with felony Assault 2nd. Silvestre will be formally charged upon his release from the hospital.

This investigation is continuing in regards to the officer involved shooting and charges have not been filed as of yet.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative duty as per divisional policy.

An additional news release will be forthcoming as this incident develops.