Police: Pocomoke victim threw bottle before shooting
Maryland State Police have arrested and charged a suspect in connection with the shooting death of a Pocomoke City man Thursday night.
Darryl K. Wise Jr., 26, of Pocomoke has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and handgun violations, state police said Friday.
Police said just after 10 p.m. Thursday, Pocomoke City Police received a call about a man lying face down in front of a residence in the 100 block of Fourth Street. Responding officers found the man, later identified as Deontre' L. Bailey, 23 of Pocomoke with a gunshot wound to his upper torso.
Bailey was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Pocomoke Police Chief William H. Harden Sr. contacted Maryland State Police and requested the Homicide Unit take over the investigation.
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The State Police Homicide Unit investigators responded along with crime scene technicians from the State Police Forensic Science Division.
Police found that just before 10 p.m., Wise passed a home on Fourth Street, where the homeowner was standing on the porch. The homeowner asked Wise for a cigarette, at which point Wise walked to the corner and returned to smoke on the porch with the owner, according to court documents. At some point, Wise made a phone call, stating he was over here, waving his arms as three men approached from the direction of the library, according to court documents.
Witnesses told police one of the men, later identified as Bailey, threw a beer bottle at Wise after making a derogatory statement, striking Wise in the shoulder. As the homeowner went inside to get cleaning supplies for the spilled beer, an argument ensued that ended with Wise shooting Bailey with a handgun, police said.
Wise fled the scene on foot, and police said they did not know the motive. A witness identified by Maryland State Police confirmed Wise as the shooter, police said.
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After obtaining an arrest warrant, investigators called the Maryland State Apprehension Team to search for Wise, who was found shortly before 6:30 a.m. Friday. Wise was arrested without incident.
Police said he would appear before a court commissioner Friday.
Troopers were assisted by investigators from the State Police Criminal Enforcement Division, the Maryland State Apprehension Team, the Worcester Criminal Enforcement Team, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, the Pocomoke City Police Department, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office and state troopers from the Berlin Barrack.
rghughes@delmarvanow.com
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