A silver pickup truck that was driving down Elsmere Boulevard just before 1 a.m. on April 16 “could be the key” to solving a home invasion-turned-shooting that took the life of a 31-year-old father of two, according to Elsmere police.
The man, who has not yet been publicly identified, was shot once in the chest in his home located in the first block of Elsmere Blvd. Police said the home invasion, during which the suspects wore ski masks, was targeted.
The truck was not involved in the incident but was driving in the area of the home just after the shooting occurred. Police said video surveillance shows it slowed down as the two suspects left the house, and that the men saw the truck and ducked.
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Police believe the driver of the truck may not realize that whatever he or she saw could be pertinent to solving the murder.
According to police, the victim’s girlfriend was in the home at the time of the killing. They have two children together and she recently found out she is pregnant with their third. Solving the shooting might help bring some closure, police said.
The killing occurred just less than a week after a 15-year-old boy was shot nearby at Joseph R. Walling Park as he played basketball with other teens. Elsmere Police Chief Laura Giles said three or four masked men entered the park and began firing, though only the boy was hit. He was listed as “stable” at a local hospital.
Police haven’t made any arrests in that incident, but said it’s unrelated to the killing, which happened two days before a home invasion in Glasgow in which a homeowner was shot under similar circumstances.
In that incident, two masked men broke into a home and shot the homeowner in the “lower extremity.” The homeowner was able to shoot back at the suspects, killing one and injuring the other.
READ:1 of 3 Glasgow home invaders dead after homeowner shoots at them: Police
New Castle County Police also called that a “targeted” attack.
Elsmere police ask anyone with information, and especially the person who drove the truck, to call Detective Scot Sowden at 302-668-3014. They can also reach out to Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.
Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_
