Fatal Hunting Accident
Maryland Hunter Charged With Manslaughter After Fatal Shooting in Delaware Field
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Key Points
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After a preliminary investigation, Delaware State Police concluded that Moorhead fired the round that struck Soto and then took him into custody.
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The hunting blind was described as a camouflaged, ground-level shelter intended to conceal hunters from animals.
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A GoFundMe campaign said Soto’s family was facing “overwhelming pain” and a heavy financial burden, including the costs of funeral services and transporting her body to Guatemala.
A 74-year-old Maryland hunter was charged after fatally shooting a 39-year-old woman in an Ellendale, Delaware field on September 18, mistaking her for a deer. Delaware State Police say Walter Moorhead of Salisbury fired a rifle round that struck Santos Maria Chilel Soto as she walked with a man and two children. Soto received emergency treatment but died at a hospital.
Moorhead faces felony manslaughter, illegal possession of a firearm during a felony, and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, according to WMDT. He was released after posting a $43,000 cash bond. Soto was a mother of five. Her family is raising funds to return her remains to Guatemala.
How the Fatal Shooting Occurred
Moorhead was hunting from a camouflaged ground blind—a concealed, ground-level shelter used to hide hunters from animals. On September 18, Soto was walking through an open field in Ellendale with a companion and two children when Moorhead fired. Delaware State Police concluded the round came from Moorhead's rifle and took him into custody after the preliminary investigation.
Charges Filed Against the Hunter
Moorhead was charged with one count of felony manslaughter, one count of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. WMDT reported he was released on a $43,000 cash bond. The three reckless endangerment charges relate to the man and two children who were with Soto at the time.
A Mother of Five Remembered
Soto was a beloved family member and mother of five children. Her family faced overwhelming financial hardship following her death. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help cover funeral costs and the expensive process of transporting her body back to her native Guatemala, her family's home country.
Investigation Ongoing as Police Seek Witnesses
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues its investigation into the September 18 shooting. Authorities are seeking information from anyone who witnessed the incident or has details about what happened in the Ellendale field that day.
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