By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
A story making national news involves a Maryland man who now faces criminal charges in neighboring Delaware in the shooting death of a woman Sept. 18 he apparently mistook for a deer.
According to Delaware State Police, the suspect, identified as 74-year-old Walter Moorhead, was hunting from a ground blind when the incident occurred. Moorhead, of Salisbury, Maryland now faces manslaughter charges. He was arrested Friday evening.
The story made news all the way to Seattle, Washington, where local station KIRO—the CBS affiliate—is reporting that the woman, a man and two children were walking in a field in the Ellendale, Delaware when Moorhead fired.
NBC News is reporting the State police identified the woman Sunday as Santos Maria Chilel Soto of Georgetown, Delaware.
Moorhead was released on $43,000 cash bond. He was arraigned on several charges, all felonies, including:
- Manslaughter Recklessly Caused Death of Another Person (Felony)
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony) – 3 counts
This type of hunting incident has become increasingly rare over the years, although it still does occur. Hunters are always reminded by state natural resources agencies to be absolutely sure of their target, and what is beyond. In many states, regulations require the wearing of fluorescent orange while hunting, but that doesn’t apply to non-hunters who may also be present in an area where hunting is occurring.
According to the Delaware Natural Resources agency, “Firearm deer hunters, as well as bow hunters and small game hunters, are required to wear no less than 400 square inches of hunter orange on their heads, chests, and backs combined.
“Deer hunters concealed inside ground-level blinds also must place 400 square inches of hunter orange within 10 feet outside of the blind and at least three feet off the ground during firearms deer seasons.”
