74-Year-Old Charged After Fatally Shooting Delaware Woman

A 74-year-old Maryland man has been charged with manslaughter after telling police he shot and killed a woman he mistook for a deer while hunting in Ellendale, Delaware, according to the Delaware State Police, as first reported by NBC News.

What happened in Ellendale, Delaware?

Troopers responded to a report of a woman shot in an open field at about 7:40 p.m. on Friday, Delaware State Police said. Officers provided care at the scene before the woman was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to the department.

Who was the victim?

State police identified her Sunday as Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, of Georgetown, Delaware. She was walking through the field with a man and two children at the time of the shooting, police said.

What does the hunter say happened?

Walter Moorhead, of Salisbury, Maryland, was hunting from a camouflaged shelter known as a "ground blind" when he fired his rifle, believing he had spotted a deer, according to state police. The shot struck Chilel Soto instead, police said.

What charges does Walter Moorhead face?

Moorhead, 74, was charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, Delaware State Police said. He was arrested following the investigation into the shooting.

Was Moorhead released, and has he commented?

Moorhead was released on $43,000 cash bond, according to state police. He did not return a phone call from NBC News seeking comment, and it was not immediately clear Sunday whether he had retained an attorney.

Case at a glance

• Time of shooting: approximately 7:40 p.m. Friday
• Location: open field in Ellendale, Delaware
• Victim: Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, of Georgetown, Delaware
• Suspect: Walter Moorhead, 74, of Salisbury, Maryland
• Bond: $43,000 cash
• Charges: manslaughter, reckless endangerment, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

Delaware State Police have not released additional details on the investigation, including whether Chilel Soto's companions witnessed the shooting or whether charges could be added or amended as the case proceeds. NBC News reported that a call to Moorhead requesting comment went unreturned, and no attorney had been identified for him as of Sunday.

The case underscores a recurring hazard during hunting season: shootings in which a hunter reports mistaking a person for game. Delaware State Police did not immediately respond to questions about the state's hunting regulations regarding ground blinds or line-of-sight requirements in areas open to pedestrian use. The department said its investigation into the shooting remains active.