Delaware State Police have identified 68-year-old Michael Smith, of Portsmouth, Virginia, as the man who died in the fatal crash in Lincoln on Friday.

The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Master Corporal K. Argo at (302) 703-3264. 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.

Delaware State Police arrested 36-year-old Ryan Doneker, from Harbeson, Delaware, for drug and weapon charges following a vehicle pursuit Saturday afternoon in Harbeson.

On October 18, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m., troopers responded to a business complex in the 22,000 block of Dozer Lane in Harbeson, for a report of a man potentially under the influence of an illegal substance or experiencing a medical issue. Upon arrival, troopers located a man, later identified as Doneker, seated in the driver’s seat of a Honda CR-V. As troopers approached to check on his well-being, Doneker fled, driving through a grass field. Troopers activated their emergency lights to stop Doneker, however he fled southbound on Indian Mission Road.

Troopers pursued Doneker as he drove erratically and committed multiple traffic offenses on several area roads. As Doneker drove southbound on Gravel Hill Road, troopers successfully deployed stop sticks and deflated one of the Honda’s tires. Doneker eventually stopped on Gravel Hill Road, near Doc Frame Road.

Doneker exited the Honda holding what appeared to be a tan handgun, but he immediately dropped it at troopers’ command. Doneker was taken into custody, and troopers discovered the tan handgun was a non-lethal pepperball gun. A search of Doneker revealed .11 grams of cocaine, an icepick, and approximately $4,700 of suspected drug proceeds. Troopers also observed signs of impairment during their interaction with Doneker.

Doneker was taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with the below offenses, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $24,401 secured bond.

• Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance (Felony)
• Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
• Carrying a Concealed Deady Weapon (Felony)
• Resisting Arrest
• Malicious Mischief by a Motor Vehicle
• Driving Under the Influence of Drug
• Numerous Traffic Offenses

Delaware State Police arrested 58-year-old John Bender, of Millsboro, Delaware, following a multi-month drug investigation in Sussex County.

Over the past several months, detectives from the Delaware State Police Sussex County Drug Unit conducted an investigation into Bender after receiving information that he was dealing drugs from his residence. During that time, detectives observed evidence of drug dealing activity and obtained a search warrant for his house.

On October 17, 2025, detectives executed the search warrant at the residence in the 32,000 block of South Captains Way in Millsboro. During the search warrant, Bender was detained in the house.

A search of the residence led to the discovery of the following items:

• 22.9 grams of methamphetamine
• A digital scale
• Drug packaging materials
• 21 knives defined as deadly weapons
• 4 pair of brass knuckles

Bender, who is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing deadly weapons, was taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $102,200 cash bond.

• Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 25 counts
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substance Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
• Possession of Controlled Substance Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
• Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited (Felony) – 24 counts
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Delaware State Police have identified 25-year-old Gudiel Ramirez-Lopez, of Laurel, Delaware, as the man who died in the fatal crash in Georgetown on Thursday.

Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Sergeant A. Mitchell at (302) 703-3269. 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.

The Delaware State Police are investigating a three-vehicle fatal crash that occurred Friday afternoon in Lincoln.

On October 17, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m., a Hyundai Sonata was traveling northbound on Dupont Boulevard, approaching Johnson Road. A Honda Accord was also traveling northbound on Dupont Boulevard, directly behind the Hyundai. At the same time, a Freightliner tanker-truck was traveling westbound on Johnson Road, approaching Dupont Boulevard.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the Hyundai was slowing to a stop for the yellow or red signal. The Honda failed to slow down and as a result, the front of the Honda struck the rear of the Hyundai. After the collision, the Hyundai was pushed into the intersection, striking the left side of the Freightliner as it traveled westbound through the intersection.

The driver of the Hyundai, a 68-year-old man from Portsmouth, Virginia, was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.

The driver of the Freightliner, a 58-year-old man from Dover, Delaware, and the driver of the Honda, a 27-year-old man from Milford, Delaware, were not injured.

The roadway was closed for approximately 4 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.

The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Master Corporal K. Argo at (302) 703-3264. 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.

The following individuals are not wanted for failing to register or re-register at their current address. This is a Homeless Sex Offender Public Notification. If you have information that the listed individuals are occupying a residence, please call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (S.O.A.R.) is currently looking for the following wanted sex offenders after they either failed to register or re-register at their current address. If anyone knows the location of these individuals, please call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

Note: Some of the individuals listed below are also homeless. Their profiles will not be duplicated in the separate homeless sex offender news release, as their wanted status is already reflected here and within their public sex offender registry listing.

Delaware State Police arrested 21-year-old Isaiah Moore, of Wilmington, Delaware, for burglary and related charges in connection with multiple burglaries of a corporate center in Newark.

After troopers responded to multiple reports of burglary at the Iron Hill Corporate Center, located at 700 Prides Crossing in Newark, Delaware State Police Troop 2 Property Crimes detectives assumed the investigation and learned the following:

On August 13, 2025, at approximately 12:20 a.m., an unknown suspect somehow entered the corporate center and gained access to PC Online, one of the businesses inside. He later fled without removing any property. This incident was not originally reported to law enforcement.

On September 21, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., an unknown suspect with a similar appearance, entered the corporate center and accessed PC Online again. The suspect removed various personal items from employees’ desks, including credit cards. On September 22, 2025, the suspect made unauthorized purchases on those stolen credit cards.

On October 4, 2025, at approximately 3:30 a.m., an unknown suspect with a similar appearance entered the corporate center and accessed the WSFS Bank Administrative Office. The suspect removed various personal items belonging to bank employees then fled.

On October 5, 2025, at approximately 10:30 p.m., an unknown suspect with a similar appearance attempted to burglarize PC Online but was unable to enter the business.

Between October 9, 2025, and October 10, 2025, an unknown suspect with a similar appearance entered the corporate center and gained access to the Bistro At Prides Crossing. The suspect then removed an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register.

Through investigative means, detectives identified the suspect as Isaiah Moore and obtained a warrant for his arrest. Detectives then contacted Moore, who agreed to turn himself in at Troop 6.

On October 16, 2025, Moore was charged with the below listed crimes, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on his own recognizance.

• Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
• Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony) – 4 counts
• Attempted to Commit Burglary 3rd Degree (Felony)
• Unlawful Use of Payment Card Over $1,500 (Felony)
• Theft Under $1,500 – 12 counts
• Unlawful Use of Payment Card Under $1,500 – 2 counts

Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred last night in Georgetown.

On October 16, 2025, at approximately 6:15 p.m., a Honda Civic was traveling westbound on Lewes-Georgetown Highway east of Gravel Hill Road. At the same time, an Audi A4 was traveling eastbound on Lewes-Georgetown Highway, east of Gravel Hill Road. For reasons still under investigation, the Honda crossed the center line, entered the eastbound lane of travel, and into the path of the Audi. As a result, the front of the Honda struck the front of the Audi.

The driver of the Honda, a 25-year-old man from Laurel, Delaware, who was not properly restrained, was taken to an area hospital where he later died. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.

The driver of the Audi, an 18-year-old woman from Hockessin, Delaware, was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Lewes-Georgetown Highway was closed for an extended time while the crash was investigated and cleared.

Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Sergeant A. Mitchell at (302) 703-3269. 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.

The Delaware State Police, through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI), announces the upcoming launch of the Permit to Purchase Program, which will open for registration in the coming weeks.

Under Delaware law, a handgun qualified purchaser permit will be required to purchase or transfer a handgun in Delaware. Permits will be issued by the State Bureau of Identification within the Delaware State Police.

The Delaware State Police encourages Delaware residents planning to buy a handgun to visit the Permit to Purchase website to learn about the training and documentation requirements associated with the new law. The Permit to Purchase law takes effect on November 16, 2025, and individuals are urged to review the process ahead of that date to ensure they are prepared to meet all necessary criteria.

Although the registration link is temporarily inactive, the webpage offers a complete overview of the program and will be activated once the online application portal is operational.

Update (October 28, 2025): The online application portal is now live and accepting applications. For background, please see our October 28, 2025, news release, which announced the launch.

PERMIT TO PURCHASE PROCESS

To obtain a handgun qualified purchaser permit, applicants must:

1. Complete a firearms training course with a certified instructor. Training courses that satisfy the requirements of the 11 Del C. § 1448D offered by instructors who are not on the pre-approved list may also satisfy the statutory requirements. To find out if a course qualifies in advance of enrollment or whether a specific completed course qualifies, please contact the Permit to Purchase helpline at (302) 741-2800 during business hours or email DSP_SBIP2PMail@delaware.gov.
2. Obtain fingerprints and a photograph through an appointment with IdentoGO (Service Code 27S8N2).
3. Pass a background check conducted by SBI.

Applicants must also submit the following documents when filling out the online application:

• Government-issued photo ID
• Military orders (if applicable)
• Firearms Training Course Certificate or proof of exemption

Individuals with a valid Delaware Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon (CCDW) license issued by the Superior Court are not required to apply for a handgun qualified purchaser permit.

Exemptions and Special Circumstances

This process applies to anyone who is not an active or retired law enforcement officer or a current CCDW holder. Qualified law enforcement officers, retired officers, military members, and other specific groups may be exempt from the firearms training course requirement. Proof of exemption must be submitted with the application.

Exemptions to the firearms training requirement are specified in Delaware law.

A list of pre-approved firearms instructors is available on the Permit to Purchase website and is updated regularly as new instructors are pre-approved.

Registration and Contact Information

In the coming week, applicants will be able to access and submit their applications through the Permit to Purchase Portal once it becomes available.

All application-related correspondence will be managed through DSP_SBIP2PMail@delaware.gov. The Permit to Purchase website will be the main source for program updates and detailed information.