Dover Police Officer Involved Shooting-Official Press Release 8-28-15

Complaint # 50-15-25087

Date/Time:  Friday, August 28th, 2015 at approximately 1:01PM

Location:  Property between 100 Block of S. New St. and 100 Block of S. Governors Ave.

Officer Releasing Information:   M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred shortly after 1:00PM on Friday, August 28th.  Officers were responding to a tip they received of a suspect with a handgun in the area of the 100 Block of South New Street.  Upon arrival, officers were also staged in the area of South Governors Avenue to provide assistance.  When officers arrived on scene, they observed a suspect later identified as 21-year-old Terrance Fletcher, who matched the description they were provided as being the person in possession of a firearm.  As officers approached the Fletcher, he fled eastbound through a narrow alleyway towards Governors Avenue, where the other officers were located.  As Fletcher ran towards the officers on Governors Avenue, a Dover Police officer fired his weapon, striking Fletcher in the upper thigh.  A loaded firearm was located in close proximity to Fletcher a short time later.  Officers immediately rendered aid to Fletcher and radioed for medical assistance.  Fletcher was transported to Bayhealth Kent General Hospital to be treated for his injury and is in stable condition with a non-life threatening injury.

Shortly after the incident, as officers were on scene investigating the incident, a large crowd formed on South New Street.  As the crowd grew, officers observed members of the crowd becoming hostile towards police officers from Smyrna, Milford, Capitol, and Delaware State Police Department’s responded to assist with the crowd.  Two subjects were arrested for disorderly conduct and other charges as a result.  The majority of the crowd dispersed peacefully a short time later.

The officer involved in the shooting is a 3-year-veteran of the Dover Police Department and is a member of the Street Crimes Unit.   The officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation which is standard policy for all officer involved shootings.

The Dover Police Department continues to investigate the incident and will provide additional details as they become available.

Media should direct questions to M/Cpl Mark Hoffman via email at mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us or mobile phone.