State Police Charge Maryland Man with Manslaughter After Fatally Shooting Woman in Ellendale

Date Posted: Saturday, September 19th, 2026

Graphic titled “Homicide Investigation” showing a Delaware State Police detective and trooper at a staged crime scene with police vehicles and yellow crime scene tape overlaying the image. A silhouette map of Delaware appears on the left, the text “BecomeATrooper.com” on the bottom center, and social media icons are shown at the bottom right corner.

The Delaware State Police arrested 74-year-old Walter Moorhead, of Salisbury, Maryland, on manslaughter and related charges after he fatally shot a woman Friday evening in Ellendale.

On September 18, 2026, at approximately 7:40 p.m., troopers responded to an open field near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road, for a report of a woman who had been shot. Responding troopers provided life-saving medical care before the victim was taken to an area hospital.

The victim, a 39-year-old woman from Georgetown, Delaware, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her name is being withheld until her family is notified.

Troopers at the scene contacted Moorhead and determined that he had fired the shot that struck the victim. Moorhead was taken into custody, and the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit took over the case.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was walking through the field with a man and two children while Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind. Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle, striking the victim.

Moorhead was taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with the below listed offenses, arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court, and was released after posting a $43,000 cash bond.

Mugshot image of Walter Moorhead

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

The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues to investigate this case. Detectives ask anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact Detective M. Csapo by calling (302) 741-2729. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police(Opens in a new window.) or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers(Opens in a new window.) at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or has lost a loved one to a sudden death and needs assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center(Opens in a new window.) is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

Disclaimer: Any individual charged in this release is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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