Delaware DMV gunman let customers flee, fired on responding officers before being killed
At the New Castle DMV, 44-year-old Rahman Rose of Wilmington approached and fatally shot Delaware State Police Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook from behind at the reception desk while Snook was on an overtime assignment; Snook pushed a DMV employee out of the way and told others to run as Rose allowed customers to leave. Rose then fired multiple times at responding officers and was shot by a New Castle County officer through a window, later dying at a hospital; officials said there is no active threat, all Delaware DMV locations were closed, and federal prosecutors were dispatched to assist the investigation.
📌 Key Facts
- Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook, a Delaware state trooper working an overtime assignment at the New Castle DMV, was shot from behind at the reception desk and later died.
- State police identified the shooter as 44-year-old Rahman Rose of Wilmington and said he approached Snook from behind and shot him with a handgun.
- After the initial shooting, Rose allowed DMV customers to leave the building but then fired multiple rounds at law-enforcement officers as they approached.
- A New Castle County police officer shot Rose through a DMV window; Rose later died at a hospital.
- Gov. Matt Meyer and state police said the shooter was killed and there was no active threat to the public.
- All DMV locations across Delaware were closed Tuesday following the shooting.
- The Justice Department said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wallace dispatched federal prosecutors to assist with the investigation.
- Delaware State Police Superintendent William Crotty and Rep. Sarah McBride noted community support and briefings, with Crotty saying Snook’s service and sacrifice will not be forgotten and McBride expressing concern for those impacted.
📊 Relevant Data
From 2015 to 2019, Black individuals comprised 72.8% of alleged homicide offenders in Delaware, despite making up approximately 22% of the state's population in 2019.
Crime in Delaware 2019 Master Report — Delaware Statistical Analysis Center
In 2023, of the 38 offenders with known race who feloniously killed law enforcement officers in the US, 8 (21%) were Black, compared to Black people comprising about 13% of the US population.
The killing of Cpl. Matthew Snook is the first line-of-duty death of a police officer in Delaware since 2021.
Trooper killed at DMV is 1st police officer to die on duty since 2021 — Delaware Online
Wilmington, Delaware, where the shooter resided, had a population of approximately 71,000 in 2023, with 52% Black, 30% White, 12% Hispanic, and 2% Asian residents.
Wilmington, DE Demographics — Census Reporter
📰 Sources (3)
- State police identified the suspect as 44-year-old Rahman Rose of Wilmington.
- Investigators say Rose approached Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook from behind at the New Castle DMV reception desk and shot him with a handgun while Snook was on an overtime assignment.
- Snook pushed a DMV employee out of the way and told them to run as Rose continued firing at him.
- After the initial shooting, Rose allowed DMV customers to leave the building but then fired multiple rounds at law enforcement officers as they approached.
- A New Castle County police officer shot Rose through a window from outside the DMV; Rose later died at a hospital.
- Delaware State Police Superintendent William Crotty highlighted community support during the procession moving Snook’s body from the medical examiner’s office to a funeral home, stating his service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.
- Delaware State Police confirmed on X that one Delaware state trooper was killed during the incident.
- Gov. Matt Meyer stated publicly that the shooter was also killed and that there is no active threat to the public.
- Authorities confirmed that all DMV locations across Delaware were closed Tuesday following the shooting.
- The Justice Department said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wallace dispatched federal prosecutors to assist with the investigation.
- Rep. Sarah McBride said she had been briefed on the situation and expressed concern for those impacted.