What was supposed to be a quiet Tuesday afternoon of errands and holiday prep turned into a scene of absolute chaos at the Wilmington DMV. Just two days before Christmas, the mundane hum of people waiting for licenses and registrations was shattered by gunfire. By the time the smoke cleared, two lives were gone: a dedicated Delaware State Trooper and the man identified as the shooter, Avery Young.
It all started around 2:00 p.m. at the busy facility on Hessler Boulevard. Witnesses say the atmosphere shifted in an instant from boredom to pure terror. Law enforcement flooded the Minquadale area as reports of an active shooter began to scream over the scanners. For a while, the whole neighborhood felt like a war zone, with sirens wailing and tactical teams rushing toward the building.
The news that followed was a gut punch to the community. Governor Matt Meyer confirmed that while officers moved fast to end the threat, the cost was unimaginably high. A Delaware State Trooper, who had simply shown up to do their job and keep people safe, was killed in the line of duty. It’s the kind of tragedy that feels even heavier during the holidays, knowing there’s now an empty chair at a family’s dinner table.
Avery Young, identified as the man behind the gun, also died at the scene. While the specific details of how the exchange went down are still being pieced together by investigators, radio traffic from those frantic moments described a desperate situation. Medics were seen performing CPR on two people right outside the DMV doors, but unfortunately, neither could be saved.
The scene wasn’t just about the gunfire, though. The sheer panic of the situation caused several other medical emergencies. One person took a hard fall during the rush to get out, and another had to be treated for severe breathing issues triggered by the stress. It was a traumatizing afternoon for everyone who happened to be there just trying to get their paperwork handled.
Right now, the DMV on Hessler Boulevard is a ghost town. The doors are locked tight, and the whole place is wrapped in crime scene tape. Authorities have shut down the site indefinitely, telling residents they’ll need to head over to the Delaware City location for the time being. Roads around Route 13 and Hessler Boulevard were blocked off for hours as investigators combed through the building for answers.
State officials and the Department of Justice are working closely to figure out exactly what led Avery Young to open fire. Senior prosecutors were on the ground within hours, and the Attorney General is keeping a close watch on the investigation. For now, the state is in mourning, leaning on each other as they process a senseless act of violence that turned a routine day into a nightmare.
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