Wawa where DSP Cpl. Stephen Ballard fatally shot opens

The Bear Wawa store where Delaware State Police Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard was fatally shot three days ago quietly reopened Saturday morning.

Patrons visiting the business Saturday stopped to take pictures of the growing memorial of balloons, candles and flowers on the side of the 1605 Pulaski Highway store. Some shook hands and thanked state troopers who were at the store's 8 a.m. reopening.

"It's very overwhelming, the outpouring of love from the community," said 36-year-old Kareem Williams, a store patron who thanked troopers after he left the store, which had been closed since Ballard was shot Wednesday.

Wawa officials said the closing was out of respect for Ballard, its store employees present when the 8½-year state police veteran was gunned down and the surrounding community.

"Everyone at Wawa joins the entire community in mourning the loss of Cpl. Ballard and we want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Cpl. Ballard as well as to all of the Delaware State Police," John Sharpless, director of store operations in Delaware, said in a statement. "Cpl. Ballard's memory will live on forever. He was a hero deeply committed to the safety of his community. We hope the memorial fund serves as one small way for the Delaware community and all of us at Wawa to provide comfort and support to the Ballard family during this incredibly difficult time."

All Wawa locations in Delaware will also be collecting donations for Ballard's memorial fund, and the company pledged to match the first $50,000 in customer donations. A small memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Pulaski Highway store.

Williams said the store's closing shows the proper respect.

"That sits well with me," he said. "That gives me a lot of respect for Wawa."

Mike West, along with his son, Brady, stopped at the Wawa to grab some coffee before heading to the 8-year-old boy's little league game. On their way out of the store, he and Brady took some time to check out the memorial.

"We just wanted to stop here because we knew they were reopening today," West said. "We knew they were going to have some type of memorial services for him and we just wanted to see what it was and pay our respects."

West said the shooting impacted him, as he often stops at the store in the mornings or on his way home.

"It really hit home," he said.

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State police Col. Nathaniel McQueen Jr. said he and the entire police force are grateful for the show of support they have received.

"The Delaware State Police Family are truly thankful for the outpouring of love, support and prayers from the community," McQueen said. "We are eternally grateful to the Wawa family for their heartfelt and thoughtful acts of kindness. We have taken great comfort in the outpouring of support from all who came to this memorial for Corporal Stephen J. Ballard."

A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Those wishing to pay respects to his family are invited to do so from 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. Immediately following, uniformed emergency services personnel will be invited to pay their respects.

Ballard, 32, was shot in the Wawa's parking lot by 26-year-old Burgon Sealy Jr.

Sealy had been in an acquaintance's vehicle in the parking lot and began shooting Ballard during a "suspicious vehicle" check just after noon Wednesday. Ballard turned to run for cover, but Sealy continued to shoot him, police have said. When the trooper fell to the ground, Sealy repeatedly shot him at close range. Ballard, who was on duty and in full uniform, later died from his injuries at Christiana Hospital.

Sealy jumped into his own vehicle at the Wawa and streaked to the family home north of Middletown.

Police said Sealy contacted family members after the shooting and told them he had shot a trooper at the Wawa. His family then contacted police.

Sealy barricaded himself in his family's Brick Mill Farm house, holding police at bay for about 21 hours. He emerged armed from the barricaded home that was largely destroyed by explosive charges police used to break down windows and doors.

He was shot dead after he "engaged police."

BACKGROUND: Standoff ends in Middletown; suspect in Delaware trooper death killed

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.