Robbery suspect fatally shot by Delaware State Troopers
CLAYMONT, Del. (WPVI) -- Delaware State Troopers fatally shot an armed suspect connected to two robberies Friday afternoon in Claymont.
The suspect is identified as 41-year-old William 'Billy' McNulty.
Police say McNulty was connected to two incidents that occurred early Friday morning.
Authorities say at approximately 6:00 a.m. at an ATM at the M&T Bank located at 3530 Philadelphia Pike, McNulty, armed with a handgun, approached a female victim who was withdrawing cash. He demanded money, but the victim did not comply and he fled the area.
The second incident occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m. at the 7-11 convenience store located at 2100 Foulk Road as McNulty entered the store armed with a handgun. The suspect confronted the clerk, pointing the handgun at him demanding money. The victim complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash.
There were no injuries in either incident.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. Troopers observed the suspect vehicle described as a Toyota Corolla being driven by McNulty in the area of Governor Printz Boulevard and Princeton Avenue.
Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, but police say McNulty fled at a high rate of speed throughout the area and struck a state police vehicles.
Troopers lost sight of the vehicle as the suspect fled the scene. There were no injuries to Troopers from this incident.
The search for McNulty was called off at approximately 12:00 p.m.
At approximately 2:12 p.m. Troopers again observed the Toyota Corolla traveling in the area of Green Street in Claymont where McNulty fled from police again.
At approximately 4:15 p.m. McNulty led Troopers eastbound on Harvey Road in the area of Garfield Avenue.
Two Troopers in fully marked patrol vehicles attempted to stop the Toyota.
Police say the Toyota traveled off of the south edge of the roadway, over a cement curb, and partially on a grass surface with the front resting into several trees.
The Troopers exited their vehicles and gave McNulty several commands to stop and exit the Toyota.
Police say McNulty continued to accelerate in reverse towards the Troopers.
That is when the two Troopers discharged multiple rounds from their handguns, striking the rear window of the Toyota and McNulty who was still located in the driver's seat.
The suspect was transported by ambulance to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where he was admitted in critical condition and later pronounced dead.
The Troopers involved in this incident are 6 and 8 year veterans of the Delaware State Police assigned to Troop 1, Penny Hill. They have been placed on administrative leave as per Divisional Policy, pending the outcome of the investigation. The Troopers names have not been released.
"At this left hand turn, the state cop was right on his bumper. I almost got hit," Thomas McNulty, the suspect's uncle, told Action News Friday night.
Thomas McNulty says he almost got caught up in the chase and didn't realize at the time his nephew was the suspect police were pursuing.
"Billy is a real good man, he's a great person. He just has a lot of issues going on, but he's a great person," Thomas McNulty said.
McNulty's relatives went to the scene.
"I talked to a state trooper and I asked is he alive?" uncle Robert McNulty said.
Homicide investigators joined several more troopers who kept the road lit looking for evidence.
According to family and court records, William McNulty was arrested in 2010 for taking police on a lengthy car chase through Claymont.
His family says recently he was distraught and they question if this was a case of suicide by cop.
"Billy has had his problems on and off with drugs and drug addiction. He'd clean himself up and then he'd go back to it," Robert McNulty said.
Detectives from the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene and are conducting the investigation.
Harvey Road between I-95 and Philadelphia Pike was closed to traffic for approximately 6.5 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
No troopers were injured in the incident.
