Two Route 1 shootings investigated; one man injured

Delaware State Police are investigating after two separate shooting incidents took place Nov. 21 at Route 1 establishments in which one man was injured.

Both shootings occurred shortly after midnight, and police say they believe the incidents are related.

The first happened at 12:06 a.m. outside The Pond Bar and Grill at 19266 Coastal Highway when troopers responded to a fight in the parking lot, said Master Cpl. Gary Fournier of the Delaware State Police.

Emergency dispatchers told police that shots were fired during the fight. When police arrived, Fournier said, they found a male had been shot during the ruckus, but he was taken to Beebe Healthcare in a private vehicle. He was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg which is considered not life-threatening, Fournier said. No one else was injured at the scene.

While searching the crime scene, Fournier said, police found 32 shell casings in the parking lot. Two vehicles were struck as well as the front window of the bar, and police learned that a round struck a second-floor room in the nearby Comfort Inn, Fournier said.

The second shooting was reported at 12:24 a.m. when the Emergency Operations Center received a call of shots fired at the Wawa located at 35436 Wolfe Neck Road near Route 24. Fournier said there were no reported victims of the gunfire, and several empty shell casings were located outside the business in the parking lot.

Due to the short time frame between the two incidents, he said, police believe the shootings may be linked.

There are no surveillance photographs or suspect information available.

These incidents remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigation Unit. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective A. Bluto at 302-752-3864 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.