Delaware State Police officers pictured at Brandywine Creek State Park in Wilmington, Delaware, November 19, 2021. © REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger
(Wilmington, DE) – After a Delaware State Trooper was shot and killed at a DMV office just two days before Christmas, flags have been lowered to half-staff across the state. Just 34-years-old, Corporal Matthew “Ty” Snook died a hero as he helped save a DMV employee, before his own life was taken by a lone gunman.
Snook was working an overtime shift at the DMV location on Hessler Boulevard, New Castle County — near Wilmington. A 10-year veteran of the state police, Snook leaves behind a wife and one-year-old daughter. Cops say the killer, identified as 44-year-old Rahman Rose, was also shot dead by a responding police officer — who worked for the New Castle County Police Department.
Seated at the reception desk of the DMV location, Rose is accused of walking in and confronting Cpl. Snook before opening fire. In an act of heroism, Snook was able to push a nearby employee to safety before being shot. Both he and the shooter died at the hospital. Apparently the killer entered the building as a customer, became agitated, and eventually shot Cpl. Shook from behind. Despite being wounded, Shook helped the other employee and potentially saved their life.
Rose reportedly allowed other customers to leave after shooting Cpl. Shook. He waited for cops to arrive — and one of them shot Rose through a window.
At the scene, several others were treated for minor injuries. That includes a 40-year-old woman who was hospitalized with non-gunshot-related injuries. A 35-year-old woman suffering from shortness of breath was treated at the scene. And a second state trooper was treated for minor injuries that also weren’t related to a gunshot wound.
All of Delaware’s DMV locations remain closed.
