Man Accidentally Kills Woman While Hunting, Delaware Authorities Report

A hunter in Delaware fatally shot a woman he mistook for a deer. Police confirm the tragic incident and charges against the suspect.

Editorial Desk

September 21, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Ellendale, Delaware — A fatal shooting occurred in Delaware after a man mistakenly identified a woman as a deer and fired his rifle, according to local authorities.

The incident took place in Ellendale on Friday evening when 74-year-old Walter Moorhead, from Salisbury, Maryland, shot 39-year-old Santos Maria Chilel Soto. Moorhead was hunting in an open field when he saw Soto walking with a man and two children. Believing she was a deer, he fired his rifle, striking Soto. She later died at a nearby hospital.

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Moorhead has been charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and possession of a firearm during a felony. He was arrested at the scene and released on a $43,000 bond. The Delaware State Police are continuing their investigation and asking anyone with information to come forward. Meanwhile, Soto’s family has started a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs and repatriation to Guatemala.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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