Troopers Investigate Shooting at Delaware Park

Wilmington, DE - Delaware State Police have arrested a Wilmington man and charged him in connection with a shooting that occurred this morning on the grounds of the Delaware Park Racetrack and Casino.

The investigation began at approximately 8:55 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, as Ruben Rojas, 30, of Wilmington, responded to the stable area of the Delaware Park Racetrack and Casino, located at 777 Delaware Park Boulevard, Wilmington. It was then that Rojas, who is employed as a jockey at the track, confronted a 38 year old Miramar, Florida man, who is employed as a trainer at the track. Rojas and the victim then became involved in a verbal altercation at which time, Rojas, while still seated in his vehicle, produced a handgun and fired one round from it, striking the victim in the stomach. Rojas then fled from the scene, discarding the gun into a creek which runs through the Delaware Park property. The victim was removed from the scene and transported by ambulance to the Christiana Hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Responding troopers were provided with a description of Rojas’ vehicle and began searching the area for it. A short time later, the vehicle, described as a tan Nissan Xterra, was located by Delaware State Police helicopter (Trooper 4) in the parking lot of the Prides Court Apartments located on Sussex Road, Newark. As responding officers arrived at the scene, Rojas exited a building in the complex and immediately surrendered to an officer from the New Castle County Police Department without incident. He was subsequently turned over to troopers.

A search of the creek was then conducted at which time a 9mm Luger handgun was located. It was later learned that the gun had been reported as stolen to the Cleveland, OH police department.

Ruben Rojas was arrested and transported to Troop 2, Glasgow, where he was charged with Assault 1st Degree, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution for lack of $123,000.00 cash bail.