CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Investigators are trying to find out why a man stole a police car in Delaware and led police on a chase that ended just past the Commodore Barry Bridge in Pennsylvania and forced the closure of I-95 northbound in Chester for several hours Thursday morning.
Northbound I-95 has since reopened.
The tangled chain of events started with a shooting in Delaware. Around 2:30 a.m., police in New Castle County, Delaware, were called to a domestic disturbance at the Cynwyd Club Apartments in Wilmington.
Police tried to diffuse the situation but the man, 25-year-old Tyrese Knuckles, fled on foot. He didn't get very far, though. Responding caught up with him at Route 7 and Milltown Road, where he got into a struggle with police, says New Castle County Police Capt. Jamie Leonard.
"During the course of that confrontation, our officer displayed and deployed his Taser energy weapon, which was ineffective."
That officer then shot Knuckles in the torso, officials said. Even though he was wounded, investigators said he was able to get into the police SUV and drive off.
"At that point in time the male was able to enter the police vehicle which was in very close proximity to him, and flee the scene."
Officials said Knuckles collided with several pursuing police cars in Delaware but kept driving, eventually making his way onto I-95. The cops chased him all the way to Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
"During the course of that car chase, there were several accidents that occurred. All of these accidents involved police vehicles. There were no civilian accidents that occurred."
Knuckles finally crashed on I-95 in Chester and tried to run away on foot, but officers caught up with him. Knuckles was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in stable condition. Leonard could not say whether Knuckles was armed when he was shot.
One police officer sustained minor injuries from one of the initial collisions and is being treated at Christiana Cares.
Investigators said Knuckles had been wanted by the Philadelphia Police Department for stalking.
Police were taking video of the scene on I-95 northbound in Chester, about a mile away from Route 322. I-95 was blocked off between the Commodore Barry Bridge and Kerlin Street, but traffic is now getting through.
Police are also continuing to investigate the apartment complex in Wilmington.
CORRECTION: The article has been edited to reflect the correct age of Tyrese Knuckles.