Police in Wilmington, Delaware, are searching for a third suspect involved in the near-fatal shooting of a city police officer. Two other young men are in custody, after a Sunday afternoon traffic stop turned violent.
Thirty-four-year-old Justin Wilkers nearly gave his life doing his job. The three-year police veteran now has a bullet lodged in the back of his skull, after a gunman shot him in the face. Vernon Ross lives across the street from where the shooting occurred, in Wilmington's Southbridge neighborhood. Ross told Fox 29 he hear, "Pop pop pop, four real quick shots, it was four fast shots. I jumped straight up."
The shooting happened just before 4 p.m. Officer Wilkers and his partner spotted a suspicious vehicle at C and South Buttonwood Streets. When they tried to pull the driver over a couple of blocks away, the car took off. The chase ended on the 1200 block of Peach Street, when the three suspects in the car got out and ran. "As one of the suspects exited the vehicle, he drew a handgun and fired at Officer Wilkers, who was attempting to exit the police vehicle," Cpl. Mark Ivey, a spokesman for the Wilmington Police Department, explained.
Police arrested two of the suspects shortly after the shooting: the driver, 20-year-old Jared Wiggins, and his passenger, 21-year-old Ronald Boyce. But they're still searching for the other passenger. Police won't say which of the three shot Wilkers.
This is the first time in 20 years a Wilmington police officer has been shot in the line of duty, and clearly it has rattled the department. "The past 24 hours have been difficult and extremely painful," Cpl. Ivey said. His boss, Police Chief Christine Dunning, made clear her disgust. "This assault on our police officer Justin Wilkers is an affront, an insult and a total sign of disrespect of authority."
Wilkers is married with a daughter and a son, both under the age of five. He's expected to undergo surgery and is facing a long road to recovery. "We are very fortunate that we still have our brother officer with us today," Chief Dunning said. "However, Justin Wilkers' condition, even thought it's been stabilized, he still has many challenges to face."
Friday, May 17 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:08:49 GMT
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.If you were lucky enough to get outside Friday, to a place like the Perkiomen
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Tuesday, May 14 2013 5:49 PM EDT2013-05-14 21:49:13 GMT
A Hollywood A-lister takes the world by surprise by opening up about a very private matter. Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday she chose to have a double mastectomy to lower her risk of getting cancer.
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Friday, May 24 2013 10:26 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:26:18 GMT
Philadelphia Police are looking for a man that sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Germantown.Police say the incident happened just before 11P.M. on May 19th on the 6000 block of Wister Street.The suspect
Philadelphia Police are looking for a man that sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Germantown.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:01 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:01:49 GMT
Kasey's bark may be worse than her bite. But Hamilton Township Police say the crook who tried to rob Draper Ellis late Thursday afternoon at his "May's Landing Auto Parts Store" didn't stick around
A South New Jersey business owner comes face to face with a suspected robber threatening him with a knife. Thanks to his 7-year-old family pet, the crook ran off.
Friday, May 24 2013 7:08 PM EDT2013-05-24 23:08:04 GMT
Busy planning your cook-out or trip down the shore this Memorial Day Weekend? Don't forget about the men and women for whom the holiday is observed.
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Friday, May 24 2013 5:48 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:48:26 GMT
Surveillance video you'll see only on FOX shows chaos just after a police officer opened fire on a man who witnesses say had his hands up to surrender. Police deny that claim.
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Friday, May 24 2013 5:30 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:30:28 GMT
Ocean City is a fabulous family-friendly, shore town that is ready for a fabulous Summer season. From the relaxing beaches to the famous boardwalk, Ocean City is safe, clean and has some of the best food
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Friday, May 24 2013 4:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 20:40:06 GMT
Not the prettiest Friday, but we're ready for a great weekend. Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. After an early high in the upper sixties, temperatures fall & winds pick up out of the chillier northwest. Right now the Memorial Day Weekend looks sunny and cool with highs in the low to mid 60s on Saturday, in the 70s Sunday & Monday. Cooler temps at the shore.
Police tape surrounds the crime scene Saturday where a Wilmington police officer was shot.
