ELLENDALE, Del. — A 74-year-old Maryland man has been charged after authorities say he fatally shot a woman while hunting in Delaware after allegedly mistaking her for a deer.
Walter Moorhead of Salisbury, Maryland, was hunting from a ground blind in an open field near Ellendale on the evening of September 18 when he allegedly saw what he believed to be a deer and fired his rifle, according to Delaware State Police.
The gunshot instead struck 39-year-old Santos Maria Chilel Soto, who authorities say was walking through the field with a man and two children at the time.
Woman Fatally Shot While Walking Through Field
Delaware State Police troopers were called to the area at approximately 7:40 p.m. following reports of a shooting.
When troopers arrived, Soto was found suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately provided lifesaving medical assistance before she was transported to a hospital.
Despite those efforts, Soto was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Her death has left her family facing an especially devastating loss. Soto was 39 years old and a mother of five, according to the information provided about the case.
Investigators Identify Hunter Who Fired Shot
Following the shooting, investigators began working to determine where the gunfire originated and who had fired the weapon.
According to Delaware State Police, investigators determined that Moorhead had fired the shot that struck Soto.
Authorities subsequently took Moorhead into custody and charged him in connection with the fatal shooting.
The case highlights the potentially devastating consequences of failing to positively identify a target before discharging a firearm while hunting.
Charges Filed
Moorhead faces several serious charges in connection with Soto’s death, including:
Felony manslaughter
Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
Three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment
The reckless-endangerment charges reflect the presence of other people in the area at the time of the shooting, according to the charges reported in the case.
Moorhead was arraigned following his arrest and was subsequently released after posting a $43,000 cash bond.
The charges are allegations, and Moorhead is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Investigation Continues
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Investigators are working to establish the precise sequence of events leading up to the gunshot, including the hunter’s position, the circumstances in which the shot was fired and what occurred immediately afterward.
Authorities have not indicated that the shooting was intentional. The central allegation described by police is that Moorhead believed he was firing at a deer when he discharged his rifle.
Family Mourns Mother of Five
For Soto’s family, the circumstances surrounding her death make an already painful loss even more difficult to comprehend.
She was walking through the field when she was struck by the gunfire, according to authorities. Her death has left five children without their mother and a family grieving a life lost unexpectedly.
As the criminal case moves forward, Soto’s loved ones are left mourning while investigators continue working to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the shooting.
A Tragic Reminder of Firearm Safety
The incident underscores the importance of positively identifying a target before firing a weapon, particularly in areas where other people may be present.
While hunting accidents are often unintentional, a mistaken identification can have irreversible consequences.
In this case, what authorities describe as a mistaken identification resulted in the death of a 39-year-old mother of five.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit’s investigation remains active, and additional information may be released as investigators continue their work.
This is a developing legal and criminal investigation. Moorhead has been charged but has not been convicted of the allegations against him.
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