Del. troopers kill man who stole from New Castle hardware store, officials say

A 28-year-old man was killed by police gunfire behind a New Castle hardware store Thursday morning, Delaware State Police officials said.

Just after 8:30 a.m., officials said a person died after being involved in a shooting with an officer.

⚠️ Officer-Involved Shooting in New Castle ⚠️

DSP is on-scene of an officer-involved shooting near the Lowe’s on Hessler Boulevard in New Castle. The suspect is dead and investigators are responding. More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/H536Ix5T94

— Delaware State Police (@DEStatePolice) August 31, 2023

On Thursday afternoon, officials provided an update, claiming the man was shot to death after he ran from police and, in attempting to flee, drove a vehicle in a manner that "placed officers in imminent danger."

According to Delaware State Police Public Information Officer Leonard DeMalto, the incident began after troopers were called to a Lowe's on the 2200 block of Hessler Boulevard in New Castle on a report of a man shoplifting there at about 7:22 a.m.

He said that, at that time, the troopers saw the 28-year-old man flee the store with a shopping cart full of items.

The troopers, DeMalto said, told the man to stop, but he got into a "getaway vehicle" parked behind the business and struck an unmarked Delaware State Police vehicle in an attempt to flee.

DeMalto said that the man, "did not comply with multiple commands to stop" as officers attempted to take him into custody after striking the unmarked police vehicle. Instead, DeMalto said, the man physically resisted troopers as they attempted to remove him from his vehicle.

"Troopers shot the man when he continued to drive in a manner that placed officers in imminent danger," said DeMalto.

Troopers on scene attempted to render aid and the man was taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced, DeMalto said.

Following this incident, DeMalto said, two troopers were treated and released from a hospital after suffering non-life threatening injuries.

The troopers involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave and, DeMalto said that police are withholding the name of the man until his family could be notified.

DeMalto refused to take questions during Thursday's meeting with members of the media.