HOCKESSIN, Del. (KYW Newsradio) — Delaware State Police said the shooting at a DMV in December that killed State Trooper Matthew “Ty” Snook was a targeted attack on law enforcement.
Delaware State Police said that before he walked into a DMV south of Wilmington on Dec. 23 and shot and killed 34-year-old Snook, 44-year-old Rahman Rose had told those who knew him that he thought law enforcement was coming after him.
Officials said Rose believed he was a victim of what they called “gang stalking” — when a person believes they are being constantly stalked or harassed by the government and/or law enforcement.
They said Rose had limited contact with Delaware law enforcement before the shooting, but none of it was criminal in nature or involved Snook. Rose previously resided in Connecticut, but had been staying in the Wilmington area without a permanent address.
On the day of the shooting, Rose first entered the DMV on Hessler Boulevard around 11:30 a.m. He left, but returned at 1:56 p.m. and got a queue ticket from the welcome desk, where Snook was seated next to a DMV employee.
Authorities said three minutes later, Rose ambushed Snook by firing a gun at him, pointing over the glass partition at the welcome desk. Snook tried to shield the DMV employee while shots were fired.
Police said Rose then encouraged other customers in the DMV to leave, and the only other shots he fired were at responding law enforcement officers. One of the responding officers shot Rose at 2:07 p.m., according to authorities.
Officials said the handgun Rose used in the murder was legally purchased by him in 2021 in Connecticut.
Snook and Rose both died at the hospital. Snook was laid to rest on Jan. 5. He leaves behind his wife and one-year-old daughter.