What to Know
- Delaware State Police say a man shot his wife to death in a school parking lot and killed a female acquaintance of hers before a police pursuit that ended in his death.
- Authorities say the man shot his wife outside Smyrna Middle School on Tuesday morning after they arrived to pick up their daughter for a medical appointment. The man led police on a vehicle pursuit that ended after he shot himself and crashed in Maryland.
- Police then learned that there might be a second victim. They found a 21-year-old woman dead of apparent gunshot wounds at a Smyrna home.
A man shot his wife to death in a school parking lot before a police pursuit that ended in his death, Delaware State Police said. Police later found a female acquaintance of the woman dead in a home.
Authorities on Wednesday said state and local police were called to Smyrna Middle School around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Investigators learned that a 47-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman had arrived at the school in the wife’s vehicle to pick up their daughter for a medical appointment.
The couple had an argument outside the car, which led to the man pulling the victim back into the vehicle, where he shot her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Police said the man fled the scene alone in the vehicle the couple arrived in, then switched to a vehicle registered to him that was parked nearby.
Troopers spotted the suspect’s vehicle around 11 a.m. near the junction of Route 13 and Route 42. The suspect led police on a vehicle pursuit, which ended after he shot himself and crashed near Galena, Maryland. The suspect was pronounced dead at a Maryland hospital.
While investigating the shooting, troopers learned there might be a second victim who was acquainted with the suspect’s wife. State and local police went to the 800 block of McLane Gardens in Smyrna to check on the welfare of a 21-year-old female. She was found dead of apparent gunshot wounds in her home.
State police said a motive for the shootings has not been established. The names of the victims and suspect were being withheld pending notification of family members.
If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence hotline for help at (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or go to www.thehotline.org for more. States often have domestic violence hotlines, as well.
If you are struggling, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and suicide prevention resources for you or your loved ones. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers help, too.
