Injured Delaware trooper released from hospital

The Delaware State Police Trooper who was shot in the arm Wednesday in Wilmington has been released from the hospital.

DSP Sgt. Paul Shavack said the officer, 44-year-old Master Corporal Richard Deskis was treated and released from Christiana Hospital last night. The 44-year-old man is a 17-year veteran of the force and was assigned to Delaware State Police Troop 1 Retail Theft Unit.

According to police, the trooper had been called by the Wilmington Police Department to assist in an investigation involving a vehicle that appeared to have stolen merchandise inside, near the intersection of E. 24th Street and N. Market Street

The trooper was interviewing a woman in connection to the vehicle when gunshots were fired, striking the officer in the arm just before 4 p.m. Wilmington Police officers provided first aid until EMS arrived.

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Dozens of armed officers from multiple agencies blocked off the crime scene for hours, as investigators conducted interviews and searched for evidence.

Police are continuing to investigate. An arrest was made a few blocks from the crime scene, but Sgt. Shavack did not comment if that person is a suspect, only saying no charges have been filed at this time.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell met with the wounded trooper at the hospital as soon as he heard of the shooting.

“We spent a good 15-20 minutes talking,” said Markell. “He was totally lucid, on top of things, he did not seem to be in extraordinary pain and I just thank God that something that could have been a whole lot worse wasn’t a whole lot worse.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Millard Greer at (302) 741-2728. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the Internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

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