Georgetown woman among dead after hunting incident in Delaware, suspect charged

Local resident killed during hunting incident in Ellendale, Delaware

Delaware State Police say a 39‑year‑old woman from Georgetown, Ont., was fatally shot on the evening of Sept. 18 while walking through an open field in Ellendale, Del., in what investigators describe as an accidental shooting during a hunting activity.

Police reports say the incident occurred around 7:40 p.m. near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road. Troopers provided life‑saving care at the scene before the victim was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Initial reports identified the victim as Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, from Georgetown. The Delaware State Police subsequently said the victim’s name would be withheld until family members could be notified.

At the scene, troopers located a 74‑year‑old man, later identified in court papers as Walter Moorhead. Investigators determined Moorhead fired the rifle round that struck the woman while he was hunting deer from a ground blind, according to the police release. Moorhead was arrested and later released on bond after posting $43,000 cash.

“The suspect fired the shot that hit the victim,” Delaware State Police said in their statement, and the agency’s Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation.

Charges laid and immediate legal status

Moorhead faces multiple serious counts stemming from the incident. Court documents and the police bulletin list the charges as:

• Manslaughter — recklessly caused the death of another person (felony)
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony)
• Reckless endangering in the first degree — three counts (felony)

After booking, Moorhead posted the cash bond and was released pending further legal proceedings. The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is handling the investigation.

What authorities say happened

According to the police account, the victim was walking through the field with a man and two children at the time of the shooting. Moorhead, who was hunting deer from a ground blind, believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle. Police concluded the bullet had struck the woman.

Local authorities in Delaware are continuing their investigation; the incident remains under active review by the homicide unit, which typically gathers witness statements, ballistic evidence and firearm information to determine whether additional charges or changes in charges are warranted.

Local implications for Georgetown residents

News that a resident from Georgetown was killed in an out‑of‑province hunting incident will reverberate at home. Families with ties to cross‑border travel, recreational hunting, and outdoor work may face renewed concerns about safety when travelling to U.S. hunting areas. Community supports and consular assistance can become important for families in such cases.

For now, details released by Delaware State Police form the basis of the public record: the victim’s age and hometown, the location and time of the shooting, the presence of a hunter firing from a blind and the charges laid against the suspect. Canadian authorities or consular officials were not mentioned in the Delaware statement; any involvement by Canadian officials would typically be handled through established consular channels and could be confirmed by Global Affairs Canada if and when requests are made by the family.

As the Delaware investigation proceeds, Georgetown residents seeking more information about the victim or wishing to offer condolences should watch for statements from family or local community groups. WE NEWS will continue to monitor developments and report further details from official sources as they become available.