Del. Police Officer Dies After Shooting

GEORGETOWN, Del. - Delaware State Police said one Georgetown police officer died and a second was wounded in a shooting Tuesday night. Two people were taken into custody after the shooting, but one suspect (pictured) remains on the loose.

Patrolman Chad Spicer, 29, was shot in the face and died of jis injuries after responding to a call of shots fired at a local McDonalds, police said.

Cpl. Shawn Brittingham was rushed to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes with a wound to his neck. Police clarified Wednesday morning that he was struck by a projectile fragment, and his condition has been upgraded from critical to stable.

Spokesman Cpl. Bruce Harris said the officers were fired upon Tuesday at about 6:45 p.m.

The incident began with the report of shots fired at the fast-foot restaurant, and police got a description of a suspect vehicle. The two police officers saw and chased a vehicle matching that description.

Harris said the suspects left the vehicle and the officers pursued them on foot; that's when the shots rang out.

Two people were taken into custody minutes later, and one of them was formally charged Wednesday morning.

Derrick J. Powell, 22, of the 500 block Pennsylvania Avenue in Cumberland, Md., faces a first-degree murder charge as well as three counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony, burglary, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest – he allegedly went inside a Savannah Road residence to try and evade capture.

Police said the second person they apprehended has not been charged. A preliminary information suggests he was not directly involved with Spicer's killing, but police said their investigation and collection of information is ongoing.

A third man, however, remains at large. He's identified as 20-year-old Christopher Reeves, of the 21000 block West Mayhew Drive in Lincoln.

Reeves is described as black, 22-years-old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds and having tattoos on his arms and neck.

Police said Reeves was driving the Chrysler Sebring the officers stopped and he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone who may know Reeves' whereabouts is asked to call Troop 4 at 302-856-5850, Crime Stoppers at-1-800-TIP-3333 or for immediate assistance dial 911.

"We're asking for the public's help to ... locate Christopher Reeves. And if you see him, don't hesitate to call 911. Any suspicious activity or anyone who matches his description, we'll send someone out to investigate," Harris said.

Spicer, who had been on the force for about a year, is the Georgetown Police Department's first officer killed in the line of duty.

Brittingham joined Georgetown's department in 2003 and is described on the township's Web site as a patrol corporal, shift commander and K-9 officer.