WILMINGTON, DE — A 17-year-old pedestrian was critically injured and two 17-year-old boys face criminal charges after a vehicle allegedly fled a Wilmington police stop and struck the teenager Sunday evening.
According to police, officers patrolling near 33rd and Washington streets around 7:40 p.m. Aug. 23 attempted to stop a vehicle after observing it disregard a stop sign.
The vehicle initially failed to stop but eventually pulled over in the 3000 block of North Madison Street, police reported. As officers spoke with the driver and occupants, the driver allegedly accelerated and fled.
Police pursued the vehicle briefly before a supervisor terminated the pursuit, according to investigators.
A short time later, officers learned that the vehicle had allegedly struck a 17-year-old pedestrian near Taylor and Spruce streets. Police provided emergency medical assistance before the teenager was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Investigators subsequently located the vehicle near Eighth and Spruce streets, where its two occupants allegedly fled on foot. Police reported that both 17-year-old boys were taken into custody after brief foot pursuits and that each allegedly possessed a loaded handgun, including one equipped with an extended magazine.
The first teenager was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, disregarding a police officer’s signal, reckless driving and failure to stop at a stop sign.
He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on $19,000 cash-only bail, according to police.
The second teenager was charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon and resisting arrest. Police reported that he was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on $11,000 cash-only bail.
The Wilmington Police Department’s Special Operations Division and Traffic Unit are investigating the collision. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. Amir Young at 302-500-9228.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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