Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

Delaware State Police Identify Fugitive Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting

Date Posted: Sunday, September 3rd, 2023

News Release text with State Police vehicle in the background

The Delaware State Police have identified Tremaine Jackson, 28, of Wilmington, Delaware, as the man killed in the  officer-involved shooting that occurred during his arrest in New Castle Thursday.

Preliminarily, the investigation reveals on August 31, at 7:22 a.m., detectives from the New Castle County Governor’s Task Force and the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team responded to Lowe’s, located at 2225 Hessler Boulevard in New Castle, to apprehend Jackson, a known fugitive. Troopers had been investigating Jackson for numerous crimes since July 2022 and knew he had multiple arrest warrants in Delaware and Pennsylvania for felony crimes and other offenses. Throughout the month of August (2023), Jackson was also involved in several vehicle pursuits that involved crashes. Due to his history of evading arrest, the risk in which he placed the public and his continued suspected involvement in criminal acts, Delaware State Police were actively attempting to arrest Jackson.

The investigation also reveals that during this operation, detectives observed Jackson leaving Lowe’s with a shopping cart full of suspected stolen merchandise. Troopers attempted to stop him, but he ran away. Jackson got into a vehicle that was parked behind the business and struck an unmarked DSP vehicle as he tried to flee. Jackson disregarded multiple commands to stop and physically resisted when a trooper tried to remove him from the car. As Jackson continued to drive his vehicle, a trooper became pinned between the guardrail and Jackson’s driver’s side door. A 4-year veteran and 12-year veteran of the Delaware State Police fired at Jackson after he refused to stop and continued to drive in a manner that posed a risk of death or serious injury to the officers. Jackson was struck and troopers attempted life-saving measures until paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two troopers were injured during this incident and transported to a nearby hospital, where they were later released.

Per Delaware State Police standard operating procedures, the two troopers who were involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave while a use-of-force investigation is conducted in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice.

The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues to investigate this case. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this incident to contact Sergeant S. Yeich by calling 302-741-2703. Information may also be provided by contacting  Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-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.