A man and woman were shot by a New Castle County Police officer who was conducting a drug investigation Monday night near Elsmere, investigators said.
The man died on Monday, while the woman was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, said Sgt. Tracey Duffy, a police spokesperson.
Few details were available late Monday other than police were conducting a drug investigation about 7:40 p.m. Monday in the area of Maryland and West Champlain avenues when an officer fired their weapon, striking a man and woman.
“Both subjects were transported to Christiana Medical Center where the male subject was later pronounced deceased,” Duffy said.
Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Unit and the Delaware Department of Justice are investigating the shooting. As per police policy, the officer who fired the gun has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is conducted.
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Shootings by county police officers this year
This is the second time this year two people were shot by county police during a single incident.
The first such incident occurred during a January home invasion near New Castle.
As the suspects left the home, police said, they were met by arriving officers who directed them to obey their orders. The men, however, did not cooperate and officers fired their weapons.
No one died in that shooting.
Background:Third man charged in New Castle-area home invasion also shot by county officers: Police
Do you have information about this incident?
Anyone with information related to Monday’s police-involved shooting should contact Detective Lt. Justin Breslin of the agency’s criminal investigations unit at (302) 395-8110 or by email at Justin.Breslin@newcastlede.gov.
Information can also be submitted by calling the department’s non-emergency number at (302) 573-2800.
This is a developing story. Check back with delawareonline.com for more information.
Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.