Harrington
A teenage woman from the Northeast was wounded fatally during what Delaware State Police have described as a home invasion that turned into a deadly shootout early Saturday in Dover.
Investigators are still trying to piece together the details of the mayhem and the possible motives of two alleged gunmen, including one who also hails from the Northeast and the other who remained on the loose yesterday afternoon.
Haley Henwood,18, was one of the shooting victims. Her public profile on Facebook indicates she attended Abraham Lincoln High School from 2011 to ’14, although police did not disclose her home address. The News Journal of Wilmington reported that about 50 relatives and friends held a vigil near Henwood’s Northeast home on Monday.
Also Monday, Matthew Harrington, 23, of the 200 block of Passmore St. in Lawncrest, surrendered to police in Buckingham Township, Bucks County, to face charges of murder, attempted robbery, assault, burglary, weapons offenses and conspiracy. He remains at Bucks County Prison awaiting extradition proceedings.
Delaware State Police initially reported that troopers were called to a home on the 1400 block of John Clark Road in Dover on Saturday at about 1:38 a.m. in response to a home invasion. A woman claimed that two men burst into the house with guns and shot her father, 52, during a struggle. The father’s adult son was also wounded inside the house, but chased the intruders outside as they fled, police said.
More shots were fired during the foot chase. One of the bullets struck Henwood, who was later taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. The father, Clifton Leager, died at the scene. The son, whose name was not released, was treated at a local hospital and released. He has not been charged criminally.
Delaware State Police said that Henwood had traveled with Harrington and his alleged accomplice to Dover, but the circumstances remained a mystery yesterday. The investigators did not disclose how they identified the suspects or how they gleaned information about Henwood.
Authorities are still trying to locate the other gunman, who they named as Saleem Shabazz, 21, of Philadelphia. He was described as black, 6 feet tall and 150 to 160 pounds with a slim build, dark clothing and an unknown type of handgun. He may be using a dark, four-door SUV. He is wanted for murder, attempted robbery, assault, weapons offenses, burglary and conspiracy.
Information can be reported to Detective Grassi at 302–365–8441, through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1–800-TIP-333 or by sending a text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.” His location can also be reported by calling 911.
According to Lt. J.R. Landis of Buckingham Township Police, Harrington returned to the Philadelphia area after the shootout. When relatives heard he was a suspect, they urged him to surrender. Harrington was driving around in a vehicle with relatives when he agreed to surrender. The closest police station happened to be Buckingham.
Henwood’s Facebook friends have posted messages of condolence to her profile page. There is also a link to a GoFundMe.com page that was created on Monday to raise money for funeral arrangements. The effort had raised more than $1,700 in the first day. ••
Shabazz
Fatal shooting: Haley Henwood,18, was killed during what police say was a home invasion gone wrong. SOURCE: GOFUNDME
