Suspect Dies Following Trooper-Involved Shooting In Claymont, Del.
CLAYMONT, Del. (CBS) -- Delaware State Police say a male suspect has died following a trooper-involved shooting in Claymont, Delaware.
It happened around 4:15 p.m. Friday at Harvey Road and Garfield Avenue.
Police have identified the suspect as William F. McNulty, 41, of Claymont, Delaware.
According to police, McNulty was connected to two armed robberies that occurred early Friday morning.
The first incident happened around 6 a.m. at an ATM machine at the M&T Bank at 3500 block of Philadelphia Pike. Police say as a male suspect armed with a handgun approached a female who was withdrawing cash from the ATM and demanded money. The female did not comply and the suspect fled the area.
The second incident happened around 6:15 a.m. at the 7-Eleven convenience store at the 2100 block of Foulk Road as police say the same suspect entered the store armed with a handgun. According to police, the suspect confronted the clerk pointing the handgun at him demanding money. The victim complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash.
There were no injuries in either incident.
Through further investigation and interviews, police say troopers were able to connect McNulty to both armed robberies.
Around 11:30 a.m., police say troopers saw the suspect vehicle described as a Toyota Corolla being driven by McNulty in the area of Governor Printz Boulevard and Princeton Avenue in Claymont where troopers attempted to stop the vehicle.
Police say McNulty disregarded their attempts and fled at a high rate of speed throughout the area and allegedly struck a state police vehicle causing damage.
Troopers lost site of the vehicle as the suspect fled the scene. There were no injuries to troopers from this incident. The search for McNulty was terminated around 12 p.m.
Around 2:12 p.m., police say troopers again saw the Toyota Corolla traveling in the area of Green Street in Claymont where McNulty allegedly fled from troopers at a high rate of speed throughout the Claymont area.
Around 4:15 p.m., police say McNulty led troopers eastbound on Harvey Road in the area of Garfield Avenue. According to police, two troopers in fully marked patrol vehicles reportedly attempted to stop the Toyota. Police say the Toyota traveled off of the south edge of the roadway, over a cement curb, and partially on a grass surface with the front resting into several evergreen trees.
According to police, the Troopers exited their vehicles and gave McNulty several commands to stop and exit the Toyota. Police say McNulty did not comply with their commands and continued to accelerate in reverse towards the troopers.
Police say two troopers discharged multiple rounds from their handguns, striking the rear window of the Toyota, also striking McNulty who was still located in the driver's seat.
The trooper medic from DSP Helicopter Trooper 4 treated McNulty at the scene.
McNulty was taken to Christiana Hospital Trauma Center in critical condition and he later pronounced dead.
Friday night over the phone, CBS 3 Eyewitness News spoke with McNulty's uncle.
"He's never owned a weapon before. Not that I've ever known of or anyone in the family would know of. It's just so unlike him, for this to happen like this and it's kind of hard for us to grasp it and we are taking it and dealing with it the best we can right now," said his uncle Robert McNulty.
Police say the troopers involved in this incident are six and eight-year veterans of the Delaware State Police assigned to Troop 1, Penny Hill. They have been placed on administrative leave as per divisional policy, pending the outcome of the investigation. The troopers' names have not been released.
Detectives from the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene and are conducting the investigation.
Harvey Road between I-95 and Philadelphia Pike was closed to traffic for about six and a half hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
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