Officer involved firearm discharge incident under investigation in Dover

DOVER, Del. – Dover Police are investigating an officer-involved firearm discharge.

At around 2:20 p.m. Monday, officers were trying to contact a subject, identified as 22-year-old Millard Richardson, inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Sleep Inn Hotel. Officers were reportedly trying to arrest Richardson as the result of a firearm and gang investigation and had information that he currently had a firearm, which he is reportedly prohibited from possessing.

Richardson allegedly tried to drive away when officers made contact with him, ultimately hitting a police vehicle. After the crash, Richardson continued refusing to get out of his vehicle. Officers subsequently broke the driver side window to gain access to the car, at which point a departmental-issued rifle reportedly discharged. Richardson and an officer both suffered hand injuries as a result.

The officer was taken to Bayhealth Kent Campus for treatment.

The exact cause of injury to Richardson and the cause of the firearm discharge remain under investigation. Two other people in the vehicle at the time of the incident, a 24-year-old man and 21-year-old man, were not injured.

A search warrant was obtained and executed on the vehicle that Richardson was driving, leading to the recovery of a loaded handgun concealed between the driver’s seat and center console of the vehicle, over $1,000, 219.6 grams of marijuana, 56.7 grams of THC wax, 7 grams of marijuana edibles and oils, a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia, and 15.5 doses of Xanax.

Richardson is currently being treated at Bayhealth Kent Campus. On release, he will be charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, three counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, criminal mischief over $1000 but less than $5000, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The officer involved is a 2.5 year veteran of the Dover Police Department and a member of the Patrol Division. Consistent with standard policy, the officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.