Keith Price, 21

Wilmington, Delaware
April 19, 2017

Agencies: Newcastle County Police Department Delaware

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

A man was shot and killed by officers in Delaware after a chase and confrontation.

It happened around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

According to New Castle County police, officers were following a suspect as part of an investigation in Bellefonte.

They tried to stop that suspect along 24th and Market Street, but he attempted to flee.

"The officers attempted to stop him, the suspect would not stop," New Castle County Police Officer J.P. Piser said.

The man then crashed in the area of Philadelphia Pike and Washington Street Extension, near St. Helena's Church and the state police barracks.

Piser says the suspect then fled on foot, with officers chasing him.

At one point there was a confrontation, investigators say, which ended with the suspect being shot and killed by police.

One witness, Derricka Washington said, "I saw the boy get out the car, and I saw them run to the parking lot where the church is, and the cop was right behind him."

Washington and her family were at a stop light on Philadelphia Pike and Washington Boulevard when a flurry of flashing lights flooded the intersection.

"Nobody was saying anything. They weren't yelling. They just got out the car and started running behind him," said Washington.

Marki Bell, a witness said, "It wasn't even 3 seconds we pulled over, heard a shot and the man was dead."

"It was like a 'pow.' You don't kind of put together until you see everything out here," witness Ann Marie Foraker said.
It is not known if the suspect was armed.

Bell added, "They could have tased him or the dog could have bit him, but they did not have to shoot that man."

At least two officers were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation, police say.

There was no immediate word on the name of the man killed or why he was under investigation.