Woman dead after police chase that began in Delaware ends with crash, shooting in Chester, Pa.

The woman was identified by family on Tuesday night as 22-year-old Yazmyn Stewart.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Woman dead after police chase that began in Delaware ends with crash, shooting in Chester, Pa.
The woman was identified by family on Tuesday night as 22-year-old Yazmyn Stewart.

CHESTER, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A chase that started with an attempt to serve a warrant in Delaware ended with a deadly police-involved shooting in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Police tried serving a warrant to a woman on the 300 block of North Madison Street in Wilmington on Tuesday morning, but she was able to flee in a vehicle.

The woman was identified by family on Tuesday night as 22-year-old Yazmyn Stewart.

Yazmyn Stewart
Yazmyn Stewart

According to authorities, the suspect was approached for her alleged role in a shooting back on December 2, 2023, on the 500 block of West 8th Street.

"The female was wanted, and there was an active warrant, and that's why she fled from police," noted Chester Police Commissioner Steven Gretsky.

Stewart led police on a chase to the 2100 block of Market Street in Upper Chichester, Pa., where she crashed her car and then allegedly fired shots at officers.

Two Delaware state troopers also fired their weapons during the exchange, but it's unclear if Stewart was struck.

"As I'm out here, next thing I know, a bunch of cops -- they had big rifles. The guy said 'Get out the car and run,'" recalled Dawn Scott, of Folcroft.

John Rapp, who witnessed the incident, was driving down the highway in Upper Chichester at the time and says he saw police open fire.

"It was probably two or three magazines that got emptied, and then a black Tahoe with the window blown out came back down the ramp, passed the police officers," Rapp recalled.

Police say the woman then carjacked a dark-colored SUV and drove to Chester, where she crashed into a building. From there, Stewart climbed through a window to gain access to a home at 12th and Kerlin streets.

Action News spoke to the homeowner, who said she did not want to be on camera.

"I don't know, [Stewart] just wanted me to let them in my house - like stay in my house but I wasn't trying to let [Stewart] stay in the house. I didn't fight [Stewart] but I just kept yelling at [Stewart] to get out of house," she said. " Then, I saw the cops outside and they told me to come out so I just grabbed my baby and I came out. And I saw later that she took my car and then they shot the car up."

Justin Burton also told Action News about a disturbing call he got from his girlfriend, who was inside that home at the time.

"She kept calling me, so I finally just answered and she was like, 'Justin, someone broke into the house, someone broke into the house,'" Burton said.

Burton's girlfriend told him the suspect was clearly injured.

"'She was bleeding, she must've gotten shot,'" Burton said, relaying the conversation. "And it's like, 'Be quiet, don't worry about it. Just chill, just be cool.'"

He said he heard his girlfriend say, ''My daughter is upstairs and she's crying. You gotta get out.'"

When the suspect left the home, she took the homeowner's gun and car keys. She attempted to drive off in a maroon sedan, but officers opened fire.

"They must've gone to the front, the cops, because she got my baby mama's keys and her gun and hopped in the car and tried to pull off," Burton said. "And that's when they started shooting the car up."

Cell phone video captured the moment gunshots rang out.

Stewart was killed in the incident.

One Wilmington officer was taken to the hospital to be evaluated for a minor injury. No other injuries have been reported.

Investigators say three members of the Wilmington Police Department, five members of the Delaware State Police, one member of the Trainer Borough Police Department and one member of the Chester Police Department discharged their firearms.

A portion of Interstate 95 was shut down near the scene in Chester around lunchtime Tuesday, but the highway has since reopened.

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