Del. woman killed after police chase, shootout in 2 states, officials say

UPDATE: Officials have identified the woman as 23-year-old Yazmyn Stewart. Latest details here.

A woman who was a suspect in a 2023 Delaware shooting was killed following a shootout with state troopers and multiple crashes during a police chase that spanned two states and led to I-95 being shut down for an hour, investigators said.   

The ordeal began Tuesday, May 14, shortly before noon when police responded to the 300 block of North Madison Street in Wilmington, Delaware. The officers were attempting to arrest a 23-year-old woman who was wanted in connection to a shooting that occurred back on Dec. 2, 2023, on the 500 block of West 8^th Street in Wilmington.

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When officers spotted the woman, she attempted to flee and crashed her vehicle into multiple Wilmington police cars before continuing onto I-95 northbound into Pennsylvania, investigators said. Both Wilmington Police and Delaware State Police pursued her.

The chase continued into Chichester, Pennsylvania, where the woman crashed her vehicle, took out a gun and fired at the pursuing officers, investigators said. Two Delaware State troopers fired back at the woman, according to officials.

Police said the woman then got out of her car and stole a black SUV. The woman drove into Chester, Pennsylvania, where she crashed into a home that was under construction along the 1200 block of Kerlin Street, investigators said.

After going inside the home, the woman continued to flee and entered another vehicle, a maroon car, according to officials. Three Wilmington Police officers, five Delaware state troopers, a Trainer Borough Police officer and a Chester Police officer then pulled out their weapons and fired at the woman.

SkyForce10 captured a SWAT vehicle ramming into the maroon car outside the home. The responding officers then pulled the woman’s body out of the vehicle which was riddled with bullets.

Police said the woman died from her injuries though they have not yet revealed if the woman died from gunshots or from the crash. They plan on releasing her identity pending the notification of her family members. A woman named Candy Chapman claimed she was the suspect’s mother, however.

“She was one person,” Chapman told NBC10. “A young beautiful Black lady. And they shot her car up, over a hundred shots at her car. One person. Why?! And shot her 17 times. Why?!”

A Wilmington Police officer suffered a minor injury during the incident and was taken to the hospital for an evaluation. No other injuries were reported.

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and the Wilmington Police Department Criminal Investigations Division and the Office of Professional Standards are currently investigating the incident.

The Wilmington Police officers who fired at the woman were placed on administrative duty pending the investigation.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.