Rehoboth Beach shooting leaves one injured

State Daily News

REHOBOTH BEACH — A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg while standing in the parking lot of the Big Chill Surf Cantina Friday, Delaware State Police said.

Authorities said that around 12:51 a.m., officers responded to the canteen at 19406 Coastal Highway for a report of a shooting. Officers received reports of a 27-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg at a nearby hospital, police said.

According to police, the preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was part of a group of several subjects involved in a physical altercation in the restaurant parking lot. During the altercation, an unknown black suspect pulled a handgun out of a bag and fired a shot at the victim, police said.

After the shooting, everyone involved in the altercation fled the scene, police said.

The victim was taken to a hospital by a private vehicle, where he was treated and released, police said.

Through the investigation, police said, detectives identified the suspect in the shooting as Jonathan Blackwell, 28, of Milford. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Blackwell for several criminal offenses, police said.

Police say attempts to locate Mr. Blackwell are continuing.

Police asked anyone with information on Mr. Blackwell's whereabouts to contact Detective J. Hill at 302-752-3792 or by calling 911. Information can also be provided by sending a message privately on Facebook to the Delaware State Police, by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or by calling delawarecrimestoppers.com.