California man in critical condition following Dover shooting

DOVER, Del. – A Dover man is behind bars following a home invasion that left a man critically injured early Wednesday morning.

Shortly before 1 a.m., Delaware State Police responded to a call of shots fired in the 2400 block of Whiteoak Road, learning that a person had been shot several times in his upper torso in the 2700 block of Whiteoak Road. Troopers arrived on scene and found a 46-year-old California man suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victim was taken to an area hospital for his injuries but was later flown to a New Castle County hospital for further treatment, where he is listed in critical condition.

State Police units canvassed the area and responded to an unoccupied residence in the 2400 block of Whiteoak Road, where they found several shell casings and evidence that there had been some type of struggle inside the residence. The Dover Police Department was then called to respond because the house is within their jurisdiction.

Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant on the residence, and learned through surveillance video in the home that the homeowner, 41-year-old John Cook, met with the victim and another male on the porch of the residence. The two men reportedly began attacking Cook, who fled inside of the residence. The two men then forced entry into the home, one of which was armed with a firmed, and Cook fired a handgun several times, hitting the victim, who then fled the scene and was later contacted by Delaware State Police.

Inside the residence, detectives located approximately 61.6 grams of fentanyl, approximately 3.1 grams of heroin, 5.7 caliber ammunition, 11 illegal M class explosive devices, and various drug packaging material.

The name of the 46-year-old victim and his current location are being withheld at this time to protect the integrity of this investigation. The identity of the second suspect is still unknown.

Cook was located in Middletown earlier this week and was held at SCI on a $146,200 cash bail on numerous drug and weapons charges.