Woman Killed After Hunter Mistakes Her for Deer in Delaware, Police Say
Woman Killed After Hunter Mistakes Her for Deer in Delaware, Police Say
A 39-year-old Delaware woman was fatally shot in an open field in Ellendale after a hunter allegedly mistook her for a deer, according to Delaware State Police. The incident happened Friday evening, September 18, 2026, and has led to manslaughter and other felony charges against a 74-year-old Maryland man.
The victim was identified by authorities as Santos Maria Chilel Soto of Georgetown, Delaware. Police said she was walking through an open field with a man and two children when the shooting occurred.
According to the preliminary investigation, the suspect, identified as Walter Moorhead, 74, of Salisbury, Maryland, was hunting deer from a ground blind when he believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle. The shot struck Soto.
Troopers responded to the scene at approximately 7:40 p.m. near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road, in Ellendale, Sussex County. Emergency responders attempted to save Soto’s life before she was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Moorhead was taken into custody after investigators determined that he had fired the shot that struck Soto. He was subsequently charged with manslaughter and several other offenses.
What Happened in the Ellendale Shooting?
The fatal shooting occurred Friday evening in an open field in the Ellendale area of Sussex County.
Delaware State Police said troopers were dispatched at approximately 7:40 p.m. after receiving a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, of Georgetown.
According to police, Soto had been walking through the field with a man and two children. Nearby, Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind.
Investigators said the preliminary investigation found that Moorhead believed he had spotted a deer. He then fired his rifle toward what he believed was the animal.
The shot instead struck Soto.
Police provided lifesaving medical treatment at the scene before she was taken to a local hospital. Despite those efforts, Soto died from her injuries.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit subsequently took over the investigation.
Authorities have described the shooting as a homicide investigation while the criminal case proceeds.
Victim Identified as 39-Year-Old Santos Maria Chilel Soto
Delaware State Police identified the victim on September 20.
Soto was 39 years old and lived in Georgetown, Delaware.
The identification came as investigators continued examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
According to CBS News, an evangelical church in Georgetown shared an obituary following Soto’s death and described her as a beloved member of the church community. The church also expressed support for her family during the aftermath of the tragedy.
Soto’s death has also prompted efforts to assist her family with funeral expenses and arrangements to transport her remains to Guatemala, where she was originally from, according to reports.
The circumstances of her death have drawn attention because police say she was not the intended target and that the hunter allegedly believed he was firing at a deer.
Who Is the Suspect?
Authorities identified the suspect as Walter Moorhead, 74, of Salisbury, Maryland.
Police said Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind when the shooting happened.
A ground blind is a concealed shelter used by hunters to hide their presence from wildlife. Hunters can position themselves inside these shelters while waiting for animals to enter an area where they can legally hunt.
According to investigators, Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle. Police said the projectile instead struck Soto, who was traveling through the field with three other people.
Moorhead was taken into custody following the shooting.
The investigation then led to multiple criminal charges.
Charges Filed Against Moorhead
Delaware State Police said Moorhead faces several felony charges related to the fatal shooting.
The charges include:
- Manslaughter
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment
The manslaughter charge alleges that the death resulted from reckless conduct.
The three reckless-endangerment counts are connected to the other people who were present in the area when the gun was fired, according to police reports.
Moorhead was arraigned and later released after posting a $43,000 cash bond, Delaware State Police said.
The charges are allegations, and the criminal case remains pending. A criminal charge is not a finding of guilt.
Police Investigation Remains Ongoing
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues to investigate the shooting.
Investigators are seeking additional information that could help establish the complete sequence of events leading up to the fatal gunshot.
Police have asked anyone with information relevant to the case to contact Detective M. Csapo at 302-741-2729.
Information can also be provided through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333, or through a private message to Delaware State Police on Facebook.
Authorities have not indicated that the investigation is complete.
As investigators continue reviewing evidence, additional information could become available concerning the circumstances of the shooting, the positioning of those involved, and what happened immediately before the rifle was fired.
Timeline of the Delaware Hunting Shooting
Friday, September 18
At approximately 7:40 p.m., Delaware State Police responded to an open field near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road, in Ellendale following a report of a shooting.
Troopers found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound.
Police identified the victim later as 39-year-old Santos Maria Chilel Soto.
According to investigators, Soto had been walking through the field with a man and two children.
Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind in the area.
Police said he believed he saw a deer before firing his rifle.
The bullet struck Soto.
Troopers and emergency responders provided lifesaving medical assistance before Soto was transported to a hospital.
She was later pronounced dead.
Moorhead was taken into custody.
Following the Shooting
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit assumed responsibility for the investigation.
Investigators determined during the preliminary investigation that Moorhead had fired the shot that struck Soto.
He was subsequently charged with manslaughter and additional felony offenses.
September 20
Delaware State Police publicly identified Soto and confirmed that the homicide investigation remained active.
Police also continued requesting information from potential witnesses.
Why the Case Has Drawn Attention
The Delaware shooting has received significant attention because authorities say the victim was apparently mistaken for a deer.
Hunting accidents involving mistaken identity can have devastating consequences because firearms can cause fatal injuries in an instant.
In this case, police said Soto was walking through an open field with other people when the hunter fired.
The incident also highlights the importance of identifying a target before firing a firearm.
While the legal case will determine whether the allegations against Moorhead can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, investigators have already characterized the shooting as involving reckless conduct through the manslaughter charge.
The presence of two children and another adult with Soto also resulted in three reckless-endangerment charges, according to Delaware State Police.
What Is a Ground Blind?
A ground blind is a hunting structure designed to conceal a hunter from wildlife.
Ground blinds are generally positioned on or close to the ground and may be constructed from natural vegetation or manufactured camouflage materials.
Hunters use them to reduce movement and remain hidden while waiting for animals.
In the Delaware case, police said Moorhead was hunting from a ground blind when he believed he saw a deer.
According to investigators, he fired his rifle from that position and struck Soto instead.
The exact visibility conditions and other circumstances surrounding the shot remain part of the ongoing investigation.
The Importance of Target Identification
Firearm safety rules emphasize the need to positively identify a target before pulling the trigger.
A person can potentially be mistaken for an animal when visibility is poor, when someone is partially concealed by vegetation, or when a shooter does not have a clear view of the target and what lies beyond it.
That is why responsible hunting practices generally stress careful target identification and awareness of the surrounding area.
In the Ellendale case, authorities allege that the hunter believed he was shooting at a deer.
The person struck by the rifle was instead Soto, who police said was traveling through the field with other people.
The investigation will determine the relevant facts surrounding the decision to fire.
Family and Community Mourn Soto
Soto’s death has left her family and community dealing with a sudden loss.
CBS News reported that a Georgetown church published an obituary following her death and expressed sympathy for her relatives and loved ones.
A fundraising campaign was also established to help with funeral expenses and the transportation of Soto’s remains to Guatemala.
The campaign reflects the financial burden that can accompany an unexpected death, particularly when a family must arrange funeral services and transportation across international borders.
Soto’s death has also prompted expressions of grief from people familiar with her through her local community.
Legal Process Ahead
Moorhead has been charged, but the case is still in its early stages.
His release on a $43,000 cash bond does not resolve the criminal case. The charges will proceed through the Delaware court system, where prosecutors must present evidence supporting the allegations.
The defense will have the opportunity to respond to the charges.
As with any criminal proceeding, Moorhead is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The manslaughter charge is particularly significant because prosecutors will need to establish the elements required under Delaware law.
Additional court proceedings could provide more information about the evidence gathered by investigators and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Police Ask Public for Information
Delaware State Police continue to ask anyone who may have information about the shooting to contact investigators.
Detective M. Csapo is handling information related to the case.
Members of the public can contact the detective at 302-741-2729.
Tips may also be submitted through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Police have additionally said that information can be provided through a private message to the Delaware State Police Facebook page.
Investigators have emphasized that information from witnesses can be important in reconstructing what happened before, during and after the shooting.
Delaware State Police Continue Homicide Investigation
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit remains responsible for the investigation.
Officials have not announced that the case is closed.
Investigators will continue examining available evidence and information from witnesses as they work to establish a complete account of the shooting.
The preliminary findings released by police indicate that the victim was in the field with three other people and that Moorhead was hunting from a ground blind nearby.
Police said Moorhead believed he had identified a deer before firing.
The resulting gunshot struck Soto and caused her death.
The suspect now faces multiple felony charges.
What Happens Next?
The next stages of the case are expected to involve the Delaware court system and continued police investigation.
Prosecutors will determine how to proceed with the charges based on the available evidence.
Investigators may also continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing physical evidence from the scene.
Because the investigation remains active, additional details may emerge.
Authorities have not suggested that the public should draw conclusions beyond the facts established by investigators and the allegations contained in the criminal charges.
A Tragic Reminder of Firearm Safety
The fatal shooting in Ellendale serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences that can follow when a person fires a weapon without correctly identifying the target.
According to Delaware State Police, Moorhead believed he had seen a deer before firing his rifle.
Instead, the shot struck a 39-year-old woman who was walking through the field with a man and two children.
Soto died after being transported to a hospital.
Moorhead has since been charged with manslaughter, firearm possession during the commission of a felony and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Conclusion
A 39-year-old Delaware woman, Santos Maria Chilel Soto, was fatally shot Friday evening in Ellendale after a hunter allegedly mistook her for a deer, according to Delaware State Police.
Authorities say Soto was walking through an open field with a man and two children when 74-year-old Walter Moorhead, who was hunting deer from a ground blind, believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle.
The bullet struck Soto, who was taken to a hospital after emergency responders provided lifesaving treatment. She was later pronounced dead.
Moorhead was arrested and charged with manslaughter, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. He was released after posting a $43,000 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues investigating the case and is asking anyone with relevant information to contact investigators.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the allegations against Moorhead remain allegations unless established in court. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and information about the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting.
This article is based on information released by Delaware State Police and reports from CBS News, ABC News and NBC Philadelphia. The investigation remains ongoing, and details may change as additional information becomes available.
