A 74-year-old man from Maryland is facing manslaughter charges after Delaware State Police say he shot and killed a woman while out hunting, thinking she was a deer.
Walter Moorhead of Salisbury was arrested in connection with the death of Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, from Georgetown, Delaware. The shooting happened around 7:40 p.m. on Friday in an open field in Ellendale. Police said Soto was walking through the field with a man and two children at the time.
What Police Say Happened
Moorhead was hunting from a ground blind, a camouflaged setup used to stay hidden from animals. Police say he believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle. The shot hit Soto instead.
Troopers arrived at the field and tried to give her life-saving care. She was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Charges Filed Against the Hunter
Moorhead is charged with manslaughter for recklessly causing the death of another person. He also faces a count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and first-degree reckless endangerment.
He posted a $43,000 cash bond and was released. Delaware State Police are still investigating.
Background on the Victim
Soto was a mother of five. A fundraising page created for her family described her as a beloved aunt and noted the high costs they are now facing while grieving and trying to send her body back to Guatemala.
The charges against Moorhead remain allegations until a court decides otherwise. Anyone facing serious criminal accusations has the right to a full defense and is presumed innocent.
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