Delaware

2-State Shooting Spree Suspect Radee Prince to Face Attempted Murder Trial in Delaware First

Radee Labeeb Prince, 37, shot five co-workers at a Maryland granite company before heading to Wilmington, Del., where he shot a man at a car dealership, police said

What to Know

  • There is more certainty in Radee Prince spending the rest of his life behind bars in Delaware, rather than Maryland, authorities say.
  • Prince shot five co-workers, killing three, at a Maryland granite company, then drove to Wilmington and shot a car dealer, police said.
  • The motive for Prince's rampage has not been revealed. He was prohibited from possessing a gun in Delaware.

A man accused of gunning down three co-workers and shooting three others during a two-state shooting spree isn't expected to face murder charges until he can be tried on attempted murder charges.

Instead of being extradited to Maryland to face first-degree murder charges, Radee Labeeb Prince will be tried in Delaware first on attempted murder and weapons charges, according to a joint statement from the Delaware Department of Justice and Harford County (Maryland) State's Attorney.

"Prince should be tried for his Delaware offenses first and then tried for his Maryland crimes," the joint statement said.

The 37-year-old shot five co-workers at a kitchen countertop company in Maryland Wednesday morning before driving to Wilmington, Delaware, and opening fire on a man with whom he had "beefs" in the past, wounding him, police said.

The shooting rampage set off a multi-state manhunt. Police cruisers were stationed in medians along the Interstate 95 Northeast corridor, and overhead highway signs displayed a description of Prince's sport utility vehicle and its Delaware license plate. An ATF agent eventually took Prince into custody Wednesday night.

"A coordinated effort brought this to a very successful conclusion on a very, very bad day," Wilmington Police Chief Robert Tracy said.

A Delaware judge ordered Prince to remain jailed on $2.1 million cash bail.

Prince was prohibited from possessing a gun after being found guilty of third-degree burglary in New Castle County, Delaware, in 2003, police said in court documents obtained by NBC10. Police say he discarded a firearm while being chased.

A preliminary hearing on the attempted murder and weapons charges was set for Oct. 31 in Delaware. If found guilty, Prince could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Once the Delaware trials wraps up, "Prince will also face the possibility of life sentences in Maryland for three counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder," the joint statement said.

The reason for letting the Delaware proceedings play out first is that criminal sentencing in Delaware doesn't include the possibility of parole while Maryland's does, meaning there is more certainty in life behind bars with a Delaware sentence.

"Prince will ultimately face trials in both states, Delaware’s proceeding will simply occur first," the joint statement said.

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