On December 26th, the police in Delaware released the identity of the gunman involved in the shooting incident at the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on December 23rd, along with more details of the case.
According to a report from ABC local television station, the shooting took place at an office of the Division of Motor Vehicles in New Castle County, Delaware. During the incident, a state police corporal was shot from behind and killed by the gunman. The gunman then engaged in a shootout with responding law enforcement officers, leading to his eventual fatal shooting by one of the officers.
The police revealed on Friday that the perpetrator was 44-year-old Rahman Rose from Wilmington, Delaware. On Tuesday afternoon around 2 p.m., Rose entered the DMV office on Hessler Boulevard in Minquadale posing as a customer.
The victim, State Trooper Matthew “Ty” Snook, 34 years old, was on duty and assisting at the counter when he was fatally shot by Rose. Despite being shot, Snook pushed another DMV employee to safety and instructed them to flee while being fired upon by Rose.
After allowing customers to leave the building, Rose waited on the scene for law enforcement to arrive. As officers approached the building, Rose fired multiple shots at them. A New Castle County officer saw Rose through a window from outside the building and shot him, resulting in his death after being taken to the hospital.
Snook, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty, left behind a wife and a one-year-old daughter. He had been a Delaware state trooper for 10 years, hailing from the local community and a graduate of Saint Mark’s High School and the University of Maryland, where he was a member of the wrestling team.
In a statement, the State Police expressed that Snook was a competent, professional, and dedicated officer who was respected by his colleagues and loved by the community he served.
During Snook’s funeral procession on Wednesday, local residents lined the streets to pay their respects. A long procession of state police, officers, and fire vehicles escorted Snook’s body from the state medical examiner’s office to the funeral home.
Director of the Delaware State Police, William Crotty, stated that the spontaneous display of support from the community serves as a reminder that Snook’s service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.
In addition to the fatalities, three other individuals were injured in the shooting incident. A 40-year-old woman with minor non-gunshot injuries was taken to a local hospital. A 35-year-old woman experienced respiratory distress and received on-site medical evaluation but declined further treatment at the hospital. Another state trooper who arrived at the scene sustained minor injuries and received medical evaluation but was not transported for treatment.
Public records indicate that the gunman, Rahman Rose, recently resided in Connecticut and previously lived in New York, with no apparent criminal record in Delaware. It was also noted that Rose had used aliases.
The investigation into the shooting incident is still ongoing, with law enforcement appealing to witnesses or those with relevant information to come forward and assist in the case.