SMYRNA, Del. (AP) - A man shot his wife to death in a school parking lot and killed a female acquaintance of hers before a police pursuit that ended in his death, according to Delaware State Police.
Authorities said state and local police were called to Smyrna Middle School about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Investigators learned that a 47-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman had arrived at the school in the wife’s vehicle to pick up their daughter for a medical appointment. The couple had an argument outside the car, which led to the man pulling the victim back into the vehicle, where he shot her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the man fled the scene alone in the vehicle the couple arrived in, then switched to a vehicle registered to him that was parked nearby. Troopers spotted the suspect’s vehicle about 11 a.m. near the junction of Route 13 and Route 42. The suspect led police on a vehicle pursuit, which ended after he shot himself and crashed near Galena, Maryland. The suspect was pronounced dead at a Maryland hospital.
While investigating the shooting, troopers learned there might be a second victim who was acquainted with the suspect’s wife. State and local police went to a public housing complex in Smyrna to check on the welfare of a 21-year-old female. She was found dead of apparent gunshot wounds.
State police said a motive for the shootings has not been established. The names of the victims and suspect were being withheld pending notification of family members.
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