Troopers Investigate Shooting Near Ocean View

Ocean View, DE – Troopers are investigating a shooting that occurred in a family residence near Ocean View injuring a two year old child.

The incident occurred around 1:10 a.m. this morning, Sunday August 30, 2015 when troopers and EMS were dispatched to a residence located in the 37000 block of Muddy Neck Road, after a 9-1-1 call was received stating a child had been shot. Upon the arrival of troopers and local municipal police departments from Ocean View, Bethany Beach, and South Bethany Beach, it was determined that the father of the female child had allegedly shot his two year old daughter in the left leg while he was showing his wife a gun he had just received. Troopers immediately took Joseph M. Jenkins Jr., 38, into custody without incident.

Further investigation revealed that a burglary report had been taken around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday evening from Jenkins and his wife when his shotgun and some cash had been stolen from their house. After troopers departed his home, Jenkins left and went to a friend's house where he obtained a .40 caliber handgun. Jenkins returned to his residence around 1:00 a.m. and upon entering, his wife woke up from sleeping on the floor in the living room. The couple's three children, two girls ages two and six, and a son age 10, were all asleep on a sofa nearby when Jenkins sat on the floor next to his wife to show her the gun. As Jenkins pulled back on the slide of the gun and let it go, a bullet fired and struck the two year old in the leg.

The mother immediately contacted 9-1-1 and EMS and Delaware State Police Aviation (Trooper 2) arrived to transport the young girl to A.I. DuPont Hospital where she is currently being treated for the wound.

Joseph Jenkins was transported back to Troop 4 in Georgetown where he was charged with Assault 1st, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $41,500.00 secured bond.