Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

Update – Suspect Arrested State Police Detectives Investigating Homicide in Ellendale

Date Posted: Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

The Delaware State Police have arrested 26-year-old Tyja Best of Ellendale, Delaware, for murder following a homicide that occurred Saturday night in Ellendale.

On June 1, 2024, at approximately 10:47 p.m., troopers were called to a residence on the 13000 block of South Old State Road in Ellendale for a report of a shooting. When troopers arrived, they found 28-year-old Brian Halliday, with a gunshot wound to the chest in the front yard and began life-saving efforts. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The preliminary investigation revealed that during an altercation between the victim and a female, the female produced a gun and shot him in the chest. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction. Through investigative means, the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit identified Tyja Best as the suspect, and on June 4, 2024, Delaware State Police Detectives and Special Operations Response Team took Best into custody without incident.

Best was taken to Troop 5 where she was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $1,060,000 cash bond.

Murder 1^st Degree (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)

The Homicide Unit is actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking 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.