The Delaware Attorney General's office has cleared New Castle County police officers of any wrongdoing in a shooting that occurred during a home invasion earlier this year. The incident, captured on body cameras, unfolded as officers confronted armed suspects attempting to escape. Two of the four suspects sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
The report, released Wednesday, concludes that the officers' use of deadly force was reasonable given the threat to their own safety and that of other officers and nearby residents. The January incident involved a group of suspects, including David Salasky III, whose father is currently serving a double life sentence for the 2011 murder of New Castle County Police Lt. Joseph Szczerba.
Police responded to a 911 call around 1:45 a.m. on January 22nd. The caller reported armed intruders attacking roommates inside his residence. As officers arrived, the suspects attempted to flee, with one carrying a .22 caliber rifle. Officers Sean Sweeney-Jones and Ryan Archangelo opened fire, striking Alistair DiPasquale, who was holding the rifle, and Evan Chandler. Two other suspects, Salasky and Michael Edgerton, retreated into the house and then escaped through the back.
Officer Alejandro Guillen encountered Salasky, who turned towards him with a weapon. Guillen fired a single shot, but Salasky was not hit. Edgerton and DiPasquale initially escaped but were later apprehended. DiPasquale discarded his firearm while fleeing. Chandler sustained injuries to his left arm and both legs, while DiPasquale was wounded in the left arm.
The ongoing criminal cases against the suspects are pending. According to the report, Officer Sweeney-Jones fired his weapon 14 times, while Officer Archangelo fired five times.
This incident follows another officer-involved shooting just over two years ago involving Officer Sweeney-Jones. In that case, Lymond Moses was fatally shot after a confrontation with three officers in Wilmington. Moses fled from police in a vehicle, then turned and drove towards them. Sweeney-Jones drew his weapon but did not discharge it. Investigators also deemed the use of lethal force justified in that prior incident.
