PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Delaware State Police are investigating a shooting involving one of their troopers.
It happened just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday, according to authorities, near the Lowe’s hardware store on Hessler Boulevard in New Castle.
State Police Sgt. Leonard DeMalto says police were called to the Lowe's, where they reportedly saw 28-year-old man described as a "known fugitive" fleeing with a shopping cart full of merchandise. He says troopers tried to contact the man, who got into a getaway vehicle and hit an unmarked police vehicle while trying to escape.
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"He did not comply with multiple commands to stop, and he physically resisted when troopers tried to remove him from the car," DeMalto explained. "[A] trooper shot the man when he continued to drive in a manner that placed officers in imminent danger."
Troopers then rendered first aid while waiting for EMS personnel to arrive, according to DeMalto. He says the man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two troopers were treated and released from an area hospital with minor injuries.
State police will conduct an investigation into the use of force. All involved troopers have been placed on administrative leave in the interim.
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