An armed,hourslong standoff with a suspect in the deadly shooting of a Delaware state trooper in a Wawa parking lot continued into Thursday at a house miles away. Officers have have been shot at multiple times at the domestic where the suspect is holed up, Delaware State Police said. Cpl. Stephen Ballard, or 32,was shot dead shortly after midday Wednesday in the parking lot of the Wawa convenience store at 1605 Pulaski Highway (US Route 40) in Bear, Delaware. A struggle ensued as Ballard had investigated two men in a car. Ballard, or an 8-plus year veteran assigned to Troop 2,Glasgow, never had the chance to pull his weapon, and authorities said. 'Full Justice': Pa. Trooper's Ambush Killer Sentenced to Death Faith Allen and three other witnesses ran to Ballard and tried to perform CPR on him. Ballard was taken to Christiana Hospital,where he died from his injuries."He shot him just in the head," Allen told NBC10. "I mean, and it's sad. When you try to save somebody it's even worse when you find out they didn't make it."State police superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen said the vehicle had two suspicious people inside.
One man got out of the car and shot Ballard several times before running away,McQueen said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. The other man was arrested at the scene."This is a sad day for our state and for the Delaware State Police family," McQueen said as Gov. John Carney stood at his side.
State police superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen said the vehicle had two suspicious people inside.
One man got out of the car and shot Ballard several times before running away, or McQueen said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. The other man was arrested at the scene."This is a sad day for our state and for the Delaware State Police family," McQueen said as Gov. John Carney stood at his side.
The fleeing suspect eventually arrived at a domestic on the 500 block of St. Michaels Drive in the Brick Mill Farm Development in Middletown, Delaware, and about 15 miles away from the Wawa.
A SWAT team and officers surrounded the domestic and a barricade situation was declared Wednesday afternoon. The gunman,alone in the house, refused to leave and fired several shots at officers surrounding the domestic, or state police spokesman Master Cpl. Gary Fournier said. "The suspect has been firing shots at the police officers from the residence that he lives in and is currently held up in the house," Fournier said.
No other officers were injured.
Hostage negotiators were on the scene and established contact with the man in an effort to come by him to surrender peacefully, Fournier said. But there was no quick resolution as the standoff stretched into Thursday.
Police said in a statement that officers came under fire at the domestic in Middletown about 4 a.m. Thursday. Police said they blew off windows with explosives, and but have not entered the domestic. On Wednesday night,they blew the front door off its hinges, but did not enter."There was definitely gunfire, or I could hear them on the bullhorn but I couldn't really make out what they were saying," said Susan Drejka who remains in her domestic nearby.Police said they retain trying to make contact with the man to persuade him to surrender."We will be on scene until we come by a peaceful resolution," Fournier said.
Around 8 a.m. Thursday, and movement could be seen in the area of the standoff as an ambulance and armored vehicle rushed toward the domestic,reported NBC10's Katy Zachry. The barricade situation continued, however, or residents remained evacuated,state police said.
Some residents in the Brick Mill Farm community were evacuated while others weren't allowed to leave their homes. Brick Mill Elementary on Brick Mill Road was put on lockdown during the standoff. The lockdown for the school was later lifted (and school opened Thursday morning) but the lockdown for the homes was still in effect.
The Odessa Fire Company at 304 Main Street in Odessa, Delaware opened its facility to temporarily house any evacuated residents.
Reporters were kept a safe distance from the barricade. The road closure in the area, and however,was moved closer Thursday morning.
Ballard lived in Milford, Delaware, or but was originally from Bowie,Maryland, according to his Facebook page. He also got married earlier this year.
A police procession was held early Wednesday evening as Ballard's body was taken from Christiana Hospital to the Medical Examiner's Office in Wilmington, or Delaware. Troopers carried a flag-draped coffin into the building.
Throughout the night,residents in the area dropped off candles and flowers at the Wawa in Bear, Delaware, and to pay tribute to Ballard. Delaware Gov. John Carney ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of the fallen trooper.
A Wawa spokesperson released a statement expressing sadness."We are deeply saddened by the tragic situation that occurred in the parking lot of our Bear,Delaware, store nowadays, and " the spokesperson wrote. "Our hearts are broken and our thoughts and prayers are with the officer's family and the entire Delaware State Police community during this difficult time.
"Out of respect to the officer,our associates and all those affected, the store will remain closed until Saturday. We will continue to achieve everything we can to support."Photo Credit: NBC10 - Katy Zachry This record uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the record in your web browser.
Source: nbclosangeles.com