SR 1 Road Rage Incident Leads to Shooting

Location: SR 1 Northbound at the Biddles Toll Plaza, Middletown, DE

Date of Occurrence: Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 2:15 a.m.

Victim: 20 year old male

Suspects:
4 unknown males, no physical description or clothing description available at this time. At least 1 suspect armed with an unknown type handgun. Suspects occupied an unknown make or model sedan type vehicle described as dark in color. Suspect vehicle should have a shattered rear driver side window from the altercation

Resume:
Middletown-Troopers are investigating an early morning shooting in the parking lot of the Biddles Toll Plaza as result of a possible road rage incident on SR 1, leaving a 20 year old male in critical condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the incident occurred on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at approximately 2:15 a.m. as the 20 year old male victim was a passenger in a Toyota Camry being operated by a second 20 year old male, traveling SR 1 northbound approximately 3 miles south of the Biddles Toll Plaza, Middletown.

As the Toyota was passing a second vehicle described only as a dark in color sedan occupied by 4 subjects, physical gestures were exchanged by the occupants of both vehicles. After passing through the cash lanes of the tolls, the sedan pulled into the parking lot of the Biddles Toll Plaza followed shortly by the Toyota. The 20 year old male passenger immediately exited the Toyota confronting the occupants of the parked sedan, striking the driver’s side rear window shattering it. The 4 occupants exited the sedan and a physical altercation ensued in the parking lot. One of the suspects from the sedan produced a handgun and fired at the 20 year old male striking him in the upper body.

After the incident, the four suspects fled from the parking lot in the suspect vehicle and were last seen traveling US 13 northbound towards the Saint Georges Bridge. The 20 year old victim and operator of the Toyota fled the parking lot northbound on SR 1 stopping on the Roth Bridge where 911 was called due to the deteriorating condition of the victim.

The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he was treated and admitted in critical condition. The 20 year old male operator of the Toyota was not injured.

Delaware State Police Detectives continue their investigation by conducting interviews, collecting evidence at the scene, and reviewing surveillance video to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.

Additional information and investigative details will be disseminated as soon as it becomes available and the investigation progresses.

The Roth Bridge was initially closed in both directions followed by intermittent lane closures for approximately 1.5 hours during the investigation.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at Troop 2 at 302-365-8426 or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at: http://www.delaware.gov/apps/ Information can also be provided to the Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information may also be provided via the internet atwww.tipsubmit.com