Delaware State Police Investigating Police Involved Shooting in Greenwood, Delaware

Sussex County, DE - The Delaware State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Wednesday in Greenwood, Delaware. The incident took place while troopers were attempting to serve a warrant.

On March 11, 2026, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the Delaware State Police responded to the 11000 block of Wheatfield Road in Greenwood, Delaware. Troopers arrived to execute a search warrant, with the intent to take 60-year-old Jeffrey Mitchem into custody.

Earlier that day, the FBI National Threat Operations Center notified the Delaware State Police of threatening online posts made by Mitchem. He had also sent a photograph of himself holding what appeared to be a black handgun, along with an image of a coffin, to a State Police detective.

Additionally, Mitchem was wanted by the Arlington County Police Department in Virginia for felony terroristic threatening.

Upon arrival, troopers found that Mitchem had barricaded himself inside a camper and refused to exit. The Crisis Management Team established contact with Mitchem. He repeatedly ignored commands to surrender.

Mitchem stated that he possessed a large amount of gunpowder and was holding a trigger to detonate it. He was observed spreading an unknown powdery substance inside the camper.

When he briefly stepped outside the door, he kept one hand hidden inside.

A trooper fired a single shot, striking Mitchem in the arm. Following the shot, Mitchem threw a handgun out of the camper and exited. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Troopers administered first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. Mitchem was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

The Homicide Unit assumed the investigation, in accordance with standard operating procedures of the Delaware State Police. Detectives determined that the black handgun was an airsoft replica of a Walther PPS M2 firearm.

A search of the camper revealed a 6.5-inch hunting-style knife placed on a shelf near the entrance. Mitchem is prohibited from possessing a deadly weapon due to prior felony convictions.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit confirmed that the powdery substance was not explosive material.

Mitchem was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and transferred to the Delaware Department of Correction on a $43,000 secured bond. He faces charges including possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, 19 counts of intent to threaten the life of a public official, and resisting arrest.

The involved trooper was placed on administrative leave while a use-of-force investigation is conducted. This investigation is managed in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Justice's Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust.

This is an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective M. Csapo at (302) 741-2729. Information can also be submitted via a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.