Delaware State Police offered some new information on the fatal shooting of Cpl. Stephen Ballard outside a Bear area Wawa Wednesday.
Police identified 26-year-old Burgon Sealy Jr. as the gunman who killed the 8½ year State Police veteran.
Sealy was shot and killed by police this morning around 9:15 after barricading himself in his home in Middletown’s Brick Mill Farm neighborhood for around 20 hours.
State Police Superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen says Sealy came out of the home with weapons, though would not elaborate on what kind.
"We can say he was well-armed and equipped. Again, we are early at that scene. Still collecting evidence at this time," said McQueen at a Thursday news conference.
Police are also still investigating why Ballard approached Sealy and another man as they sat in a car in the Wawa parking lot – but say some witnesses said the car had been there for an extended period of time.
Ballard came to the passenger side and asked Sealy to step out. A struggle ensued and Sealy started firing a gun he had in his waistband. Ballard sought cover behind a parked car to no avail.
"Sealy pursued him and the suspect fired his handgun, striking [Ballard] in the upper body. Cpl. Ballard immediately went to the ground. The suspect then fired multiple rounds at close range, again striking him in the upper body," said McQueen.
McQueen would not comment on whether Sealy and the other man in the car were engaged in a drug deal or if Sealy had been radicalized or targeted Ballard for some reason – again saying the investigation is still in its early stages.
Police also say during the stand-off they were in contact with Sealy until around 8:30 Wednesday night. At that point, Sealy cut off communication for good.
