Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

State Police Detectives Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in Wilmington

Date Posted: Saturday, June 1st, 2024

News Release

Delaware State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Wilmington last night.

On May 31, 2024, at approximately 9:19 p.m., troopers responded to a residence on Ferris Road regarding a man who was reported to be suicidal. Preliminary investigation revealed that two teens on Ferris Road observed a man, later identified as 36-year-old Jonathan Kreiser of Smyrna, Delaware, walking in the street and waving a gun. Kreiser made statements indicating that he wanted them to shoot him. One of the teens convinced Kreiser to put the gun down. The teen then removed the magazine and placed both the gun and magazine on the sidewalk. They subsequently called 911 to report the incident.

Upon arrival, the first trooper on scene began negotiating with Kreiser. The trooper gave numerous commands for him to show his hidden hand, but Kreiser refused to comply. Kreiser then picked up the gun from the sidewalk, continued to ignore the trooper’s commands, inserted the magazine into the gun, and turned toward the trooper, prompting the trooper to discharge his divisional-issued firearm at Kreiser.

Following the shooting, troopers administered first aid to Kreiser until EMS arrived and transported him to an area hospital by ambulance for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. He remains hospitalized in stable condition. No one else was injured as a result of this incident. Kreiser was charged with Aggravated Menacing and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and was turned over to the custody of the Department of Corrections on a $21,000 cash bond.

It was later determined that Kreiser was the subject of a Gold Alert issued by the Smyrna Police Department earlier in the day. The Gold Alert indicated that Kreiser had taken his brother’s gun and was suicidal.

Per Delaware State Police standard operating procedures, the involved trooper has been placed on administrative leave pending a use of force investigation conducted in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice.

The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident and asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective D. Grassi by calling 302-365-8441 or emailing daniel.grassi@delaware.gov. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. This nationwide service provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, and crisis resources for you and your loved ones.

Additionally, 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.