Delaware Road Rage Incident Ends in Tragedy as 27-Year-Old Man Arrested
Delaware, September 6, 2023 – A road rage confrontation in Delaware took a deadly turn over the weekend, resulting in the tragic shooting death of 53-year-old Michael Coffey. Delaware State Police swiftly responded to the incident, which unfolded on the 2400 block of Halltown Road in Hartly, just west of Dover, on Saturday evening.
Upon arrival at the scene, authorities discovered two vehicles halted in the westbound lane and found Coffey, a resident of Marydel, Delaware, lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. Despite the valiant efforts of troopers and Good Samaritans who administered CPR, Coffey succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital.
Details of the incident reveal that 27-year-old Joel Reynoso, hailing from Henderson, Maryland, was driving a Nissan Frontier pickup truck erratically, nearly colliding with Coffey’s Dodge Durango. In response, Coffey overtook Reynoso’s vehicle and came to a stop on the roadway, forcing Reynoso to halt as well. This sequence of events escalated as both individuals emerged from their vehicles and engaged in a physical altercation, eventually separated by a witness.
Following the altercation, Coffey ventured back to Reynoso’s Nissan, seemingly in an attempt to retrieve his baseball cap, which had been dislodged during the fight. Tragically, it was at this moment that Reynoso allegedly fired a single gunshot, striking Coffey in the torso.
After the shooting, Reynoso remained inside his truck and was taken into custody without further incident by troopers. The firearm used in the incident was determined to be stolen in Orlando, Florida, from Orange County, in 2015. It remains unclear why Reynoso was prohibited from possessing a firearm, as this information was not disclosed in the press release.
Joel Reynoso now faces a slew of charges, including first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a concealed firearm, receiving a stolen firearm, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, and two counts of terroristic threatening.
Following his arrest, Reynoso appeared before a court for arraignment and is currently being held at the Sussex Correctional Institution on a cash bond of $1,084,000.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues to actively investigate this tragic incident and urges anyone with pertinent information to come forward. Detective B. McDerby can be reached at 302-741-2821, or individuals may choose to send a private message to the Delaware State Police on Facebook. Alternatively, information can be provided to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
This shocking incident serves as a grim reminder of the consequences that can arise from road rage confrontations, underlining the importance of de-escalation and responsible firearm ownership. Delaware State Police are committed to pursuing justice for Michael Coffey and his grieving loved ones, as the investigation into this senseless tragedy continues.
