A 23-year-old woman led police on multiple pursuits, stole or carjacked vehicles from residents, shot at police before meeting her end in a hail of bullets from police who converged on the car she had stolen a short time earlier.
The woman’s name was not released, but Wilmington police gave this account of the chaos on Tuesday:
Shortly before noon members of the Wilmington Police Department’s Drug, Organized Crime and Vice Division, Uniformed Services Division and Canine Unit responded to the 300 block of North Madison Street while attempting to apprehend a suspect wanted in a shooting that occurred on Dec. 2 in the 500 block of West Eighth Street.
The suspect, identified as a 23-year-old female, attempted to evade police and rammed multiple marked Wilmington police vehicles before fleeing from police onto I-95 northbound into Pennsylvania.
The suspect vehicle was pursued into Pennsylvania by members of the Wilmington Police Department and the Delaware State Police.
After crossing into Pennsylvania, the suspect crashed her vehicle at the Market Street ramp in Upper Chichester, and subsequently fired at police. Two members of the Delaware State Police discharged their firearms during the exchange.
The suspect subsequently gained access to a sport utility vehicle and drove into Chester, where she crashed into a building.
Following a home invasion, the suspect entered a third vehicle, a red car, and attempted to flee.
At that time, three members of the Wilmington Police Department, five members of the Delaware State Police, a member of the Trainer Police Department and a member of the Chester Police Department discharged their firearms.
The suspect ultimately died in the car, and her identity will be released once family notifications are complete.
One Wilmington police officer was transported to a hospital for evaluation of a minor injury. There are no other known injuries to first responders or members of the public.
This incident is under investigation by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.
The Wilmington Police officers who discharged their firearms have been placed on administrative duty pending the investigation, and this incident is being investigated by the WPD Criminal Investigations Division and the Office of Professional Standards.
Chester Police Commissioner Stephen Gretsky said earlier Tuesday that Chester police received an alert tone from dispatch for shots fired, assist officer.
“A vehicle pursuit ensues, which ends here, and crashes here on Kerlin Street,” Gretsky said. “We have an active investigation and we have one deceased female.”
Delaware County detectives are involved in the probe. The county deferred comment to Chester and Delaware State Police.
One firearm was recovered at the scene, Gretsky said.
Gretsky said that with the majority of pursuits, that suspects are just looking to get off the highway to make an escape.
Fire police closed Interstate 95 between Interstate 476, the Blue Route, and the Commodore Barry Bridge for about three hours.
