Community mourns death of Delaware State Police Cpl. Stephen Ballard
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Stephen J. Ballard
Delaware State Police Corporal Stephen J. Ballard was a husband, a father, and a hero.
On Wednesday, April 26, Corporal Ballard was killed in the line of duty while serving the citizens of Delaware. Corporal Ballard, 32, was an eight-year veteran. He leaves behind his wife Louise and 5-year-old daughter.
Tonight, the man believed to have shot and killed Corporal Ballard and then barricaded himself inside a Middletown, Delaware home, is dead.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The suspect was killed Thursday morning in a shoot out with police outside a home he had barricaded himself inside for nearly 20 hours, repeatedly firing shots at police and keeping a neighborhood in lockdown.
MURDERED DELAWARE TROOPER SERVED THE FORCE FOR NEARLY A DECADE
Corporal Ballard's cruiser now sits in front of Troop 2, Glasgow, his home base. His hat rests on its hood, along with a flower.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Just after noon, in a Wawa parking lot located in Bear, Del., Ballard approached a red Dodge Charger that appeared suspicious. Two men were in the vehicle.
Ballard asked 26-year-old Burgon Sealy Jr. to get out of the passenger side. Sealy exited the vehicle. After a struggle between Sealy and Ballard, Sealy pulled a handgun and fired.
Trooper Ballard attempted to run for cover behind a parked car. The suspect chased Ballard, shooting him multiple times in his upper body.
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