Delaware State Police News Release Timothy E. Winstead

New Castle Man Charged in Bridgeville Shooting – Second Suspect Still Sought

Released Thursday, March 26, 2009

Bridgeville – The Delaware State Police have arrested a 30 year old New Castle man for the shooting that occurred last week in Bridgeville that left a homeowner grazed by a bullet.

Detectives were contacted by investigators from Wilmington Police Department on the date of the shooting and informed they were investigating a shooting of Michael Rodriguez, 30 of New Castle. Rodriguez was dropped off at Christiana Hospital on the 18^th suffering from gunshot wound in the abdomen that he told police occurred in Wilmington.

As investigators continued the investigation, they contacted a female friend of Rodriguez who advised police she picked him up in Harrington and drove him to Christiana Hospital. Wilmington Police had recovered the projectile that was lodged in Rodriguez’s abdomen secured it a ballistic evidence.

That projectile was later compared to projectiles recovered from the crime scene by DSP investigators. The DSP Forensic Firearms Service’s Unit, utilizing the Integrated Ballistics Information System (IBIS), was able to match the seized evidence and determine both projectiles came from 30 year old victim’s gun as he shot at the suspects in self-defense. This forensic evidence linked Rodriguez to the crime.

Yesterday at approximately 10:30 am, probation and parole officers responded to Rodriguez’s residence and arrested him without incident. He was turned over to DSP investigators and charged with Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon during the Commission of a Felony, Burglary First degree, Assault 2^nd Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon by Person Prohibited, 2 counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree and Conspiracy First Degree.

He was incarcerated at the Sussex Correctional Institute in lieu of a $109,000 secured bail. The Delaware State Police are still seeking the identity of the second suspect and are asking for anyone with information on this crime to contact investigators at Troop 4 at 302.856.5850 ext 206 or Crime Stoppers at 1.800.TIP.3333. Tips may also be forwarded to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on line at www.tipsubmit.com.

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State Police Investigate Bridgeville Shooting Incident

Released Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Bridgeville – The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a shooting incident that left a 30-year-old Bridgeville man with a superficial injury to his stomach.

Troopers responded to a 911 call at approximately 10:00 pm last evening after it was reported two armed men forced entry into the victim’s residence resulting in a shooting incident. The investigation revealed the victim was inside the residence with a 32-year-old female and 13 year old female juvenile, all of whom reside at the home, when two black males began kicking the front door.

The suspects were announcing that they were the police as they were forcibly attempting to open the locked door. The occupants were concerned because they did not think it was the police and fled into the rear of the home. The male victim, concerned for his safety, retrieved a handgun and returned to the front door area when the suspects gained entry. The victim immediately observed the suspects armed with handguns and began to fire his weapon at the pair.

One suspect immediately fled back out the front door firing numerous shots into the home in the direction of the victim. The other suspect remained inside the home and began firing his weapon at the victim several times eventually grazing him in the stomach. Afterward, the second suspect fled the home on foot. The victim sustained a minor injury to his stomach, which required no medical treatment. The other occupants were not injured and remained in the rear of the home during the shooting.

The suspects have been described as black males. The first was clean-shaven, approximately 5’10’ to 6’ tall, approximately 30 yrs of age, average build wearing a black hoodie pulled over his head with a yellow garment underneath. The second suspect was only described as a black male.

Crime scene technicians have recovered ballistic evidence from the scene. Detectives are asking for anyone with information on this crime to contact investigators at Troop 4 at 302.856.5850 ext 206 or Crime Stoppers at 1.800.TIP.3333. Tips may also be forwarded to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on line at www.tipsubmit.com.

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