Woman fatally shot by police in Chester, Pennsylvania, after chase from Wilmington, Delaware; I-95 reopens
CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- A 23-year-old woman was fatally shot by police after leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase that ended in Chester, Delaware County, and temporarily shut down I-95 Tuesday, authorities said.
Police identified the woman as Yazmyn Stewart and said she was wanted in connection with a shooting that happened on the 500 block of West 8th Street in Wilmington, Delaware, on Dec. 2, 2023.
On Tuesday, authorities said Wilmington Police Department officers tried to arrest Stewart on the 300 block of North Madison Street just before noon, but she was able to evade police.
Police said Stewart rammed into multiple Wilmington police vehicles and fled on I-95 Northbound toward Pennsylvania.
Stewart, who was pursued by Wilmington police and Delaware State Police, crashed her car in Upper Chichester, according to sources, and fired a gun at officers. Authorities said Delaware State Police also discharged their weapons.
Following the exchange of gunfire, police said Stewart "gained access" to another vehicle and drove to Chester, where she crashed again.
Stewart then allegedly broke into a home on Kerlin Street in Chester after the second crash. After leaving that home, police said she tried to steal a third vehicle and attempted to escape.
As Stewart attempted to escape for a third time, police said three Wilmington officers, five Delaware State Police officers, a Trainer Borough Police Department officer and one Chester Police Department officer discharged their weapons, fatally striking her.
Chopper 3 was over the residential neighborhood and saw a maroon car littered with bullet holes. Investigators said Stewart was shot and killed inside the maroon sedan. A black SUV was also seen overturned.
Justin Burton said he never drove faster after he got a terrifying phone call from his family saying someone randomly broke into the house bleeding Tuesday.
"She climbed through the window," Burton said. "She pushed it up and pushed in the [air condition unit] through and climbed right through it."
Sabrina Briscoe, a relative of Burton, was in the home when Stewart climbed through the window and entered the house.
"She was like, 'I don't have a weapon, just help me please. I'm on the phone talking to someone now, just give me your address so they can come pick me up,'" Briscoe said.
Briscoe said she and her family were able to get out as the suspect took a set of keys, all while police surrounded the house.
"She stole the keys for my daughter-in-law's car and the next thing you know, we hear all these shots," Briscoe said. "We ducked down and I was ducking behind a police officer with a vest."
Neighbors in Chester still can't wrap their minds around the chase and shooting.
One man working in the area was caught in the crossfire and said there were "hundreds of rounds going off."
"Sitting in your house, just chilling, someone kicks in your window waving a gun, it's crazy," a woman said. "Just a random house. Never met the girl. They don't know her — none of that."
Police said one Wilmington officer was taken to the hospital for a minor injury. There weren't injuries to any other first responders, police said.
All lanes of I-95 between Exit 4 in the area of the Commodore Barry Bridge and Exit 6 were temporarily shut down due to police activity but have since reopened.
The shooting and chase are under investigation by the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.
The Wilmington Police Department officers who discharged their weapons were placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.