Two dead in shooting at Dover senior center – First state update

Delaware State Police are investigating a police-involved homicide and shooting that occurred yesterday afternoon in Dover that left two men dead.

On June 4, 2024, at approximately 5:25 p.m., police officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance that escalated into a shooting at the Harmony at Kent Senior Living Center located at 1435 East Lebanon Road, Dover. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, a 51-year-old man from Camden, Delaware, was on the property to visit a female relative after being expelled from the facility in the past for aggressive behavior. The suspect, accompanied by his female relative, was escorted out of the building by a 59-year-old employee. Upon exiting the building, the suspect struck the employee, then ran to his vehicle and retrieved a handgun.

Once armed, the suspect fired one shot at a male relative’s vehicle as they drove through the senior living facility’s parking lot, then shot the 59-year-old employee. After shooting the victim, the suspect remained with his vehicle alongside his female relative as police officers and officers from the Department of Parole and Parole, Wyoming Police Department, and Dover Police Department arrived at the scene. Officers attempted to negotiate with the suspect, but he walked away from his vehicle and raised the pistol, prompting two officers to fire their service weapons at him.

After the shooting, officers administered first aid to the suspect and the employee until emergency medical services arrived and transported them to a nearby hospital, where they were both pronounced dead. The suspect and victim’s names are being withheld until their family and relatives are notified. No one else was injured in this incident.

In accordance with Delaware State Police standard procedures, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a use of force investigation in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Justice.

The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident.