Delaware man charged with murder of New Castle County police officer

A 32-year-old Wilmington man has been charged with murder and weapons offenses in the stabbing death of a New Castle County police officer. 

David Salasky was arraigned Sunday after being released from Christiana Hospital, where he had been treated for a medical condition that was not related to his arrest early Friday morning.  Sergeant Joseph Szczerba was stabbed to death while investigating a report of a disorderly person in the Penn Acres community.  A resident of the neighborhood received minor injuries while struggling with the suspect who had broken into the victim’s car.  Szczerba was attacked after chasing the suspect on foot.  Three other officers suffered minor injuries while taking the suspect into custody.

Several officers performed CPR on Szczerba before paramedics arrived.  Szczerba was pronounced dead at Christiana Hospital.

Salasky is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon during commission of a felony.  He is being held at the Howard Young Correctional Facility in Wilmington without bail.  His last known address was in the 1600-block of North Rodney Street, a quiet neighborhood near Wilmington’s Trolley Square.

New Castle County Police say additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.

Szczerba, who was 44 years old, was an 18-year veteran of the New Castle County Police department.  He was the first New Castle County officer killed in the line of duty in nearly 40 years.