State Police Investigate Officer Involved Shooting (Laurel PD)

Location:
Hollybrook Apartments, Laurel, DE

Date of Occurrence:
Friday, March 9, 2012 at 10:35 p.m.

Suspect:
Black male, unknown age, 5’10”-6’0” tall, thin to stocky build. No further description.

Resume:

Laurel-Delaware State Police Detectives have been requested by the Laurel Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred last night in Laurel, DE.

The following information outlines the initial investigation into the officer involved shooting involving a stolen vehicle that occurred last evening.

The incident occurred on Friday, March 9, 2012 at approximately 10:35 p.m. as a Laurel Police Officer on routine patrol in the area of Little Creek Apartments, Laurel, attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a Chevrolet Suburban for a traffic violation. As the Laurel Police Officer in an unmarked patrol vehicle activated the emergency equipment to conduct the vehicle stop, the Suburban’s driver disregarded the attempt and fled and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The Suburban continued to flee and entered the Hollybrook Apartments from Discount Land Road and left the roadway, circling an apartment building and traveling along the edge of a storm water retention pond before returning back to the entrance roadway of the Hollybrook Apartments, where the Laurel Police Officer had stopped and positioned his vehicle. After reentering the roadway, the driver of the Suburban drove directly at the officer’s vehicle with the officer seated inside. The Suburban rammed the patrol vehicle in a head on collision. After the impact the officer exited his patrol vehicle and began to give the operator verbal commands. The driver reversed away and then accelerated forward directly towards the officer. The Laurel Police Officer discharged several rounds from his department issued weapon striking the front and passenger side of the Suburban multiple times. The Suburban continued forward driving around the officer, continuing across Discount Land Road into a field. The Suburban collided with a tree and fence adjacent to Carvel Garden Apartments, coming to a stop. The driver and passenger abandoned the stolen vehicle and fled on foot under a fence into the Carvel Garden Apartments. The passenger of the stolen vehicle was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit in Carvel Gardens. The driver of the stolen vehicle was not located.

The Chevrolet Suburban was reported stolen from New Jersey (no further details on the vehicle theft are available at the time of this release).

The Laurel Police Officer was not injured during this incident.

The passenger of the suburban was not injured and it is not believed that the driver was struck by the officer’s discharged rounds. The passenger has not been charged with any crimes at the time of this release pending further investigation.

The Laurel Police Officer involved in this incident is a 10 year veteran of the Laurel Police Department. He has been placed on administrative duty as per departmental policy, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene and are conducting the investigation at the request of the Laurel Police Department. This is an active investigation with detectives continuing their investigation, evidence processing, and interviews today.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident or can identify the fleeing driver of the Suburban, are asked to contact the Sergeant Millard Greer of the State Police Homicide Unit at 302-922-0190 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com

Send an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."