The Delaware State Police have arrested 27-year-old Joel Reynoso of Henderson, Maryland, for murder after a road rage related shooting occurred Saturday evening in Hartly that left one man dead.
On September 2, 2023, at approximately 6:22 p.m., troopers responded to the 2400 block of Halltown Road, Hartly, for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, troopers observed two vehicles stopped in the westbound lane of Halltown Road and the victim in the roadway with an apparent gunshot injury. Troopers and citizens performed lifesaving measures until EMS arrived. The victim, a 53-year-old man from Marydel, Delaware, was transported by EMS to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified. Due to the circumstances, the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit assumed the investigation.
Detectives learned a blue 1998 Nissan Frontier pickup truck, operated by Reynoso, was traveling westbound on Halltown Road in an aggressive manner. Reynoso nearly struck a burgundy 2020 Dodge Durango, which was operated by the victim. The victim then passed Reynoso, and stopped in the roadway, forcing Reynoso to stop his vehicle. A physical altercation between Reynoso and the victim ensued until witnesses separated them. The victim returned to Reynoso’s Nissan to retrieve his baseball hat that fell during the altercation. At this point, Reynoso fired a single round from a handgun, striking the victim in the torso. Reynoso remained in his vehicle and was taken into custody by troopers without incident. Troopers recovered a black handgun from the dashboard of the Nissan. A computer inquiry determined that the handgun was reported stolen out of Florida’s Orange County Sheriff’s Office in 2015.
Additional computer inquiries revealed Reynoso is prohibited from possessing a deadly weapon. Reynoso was taken to Troop 3, where he was charged with the following crimes:
- Murder First Degree (Felony)
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Felony)
- Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony)
- Receiving a Stolen Firearm (Felony)
- Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
- Terroristic Threatening – 2 counts
Reynoso was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $1,084,000 cash bond.
The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking for anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective B. McDerby by calling 302-741-2821. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.