ELLENDALE, DE — A Maryland hunter is accused of fatally shooting a Delaware mother after mistaking her for a deer while she walked through an open field with her children, according to state police.
Walter Moorhead, 74, was arrested after the Friday evening shooting in Ellendale. Police said he fired from a ground blind, a camouflaged hunting structure, and struck Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, as she moved through the field with a man and two children.
Troopers responded quickly and tried life-saving measures at the scene before Soto was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police say the shot was fired from a ground blind during a deer hunt
Delaware State Police said Moorhead was hunting deer when the shooting happened around 7:40 p.m. A ground blind is designed to hide a hunter from game animals and is often placed low to the ground in wooded or open areas.
According to investigators, Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle. Police say that shot hit Soto instead.
The location of the shooting mattered because the victim was not alone. She was walking with a man and two children at the time, and police have identified no additional injuries in the incident.
Moorhead faces manslaughter and reckless endangerment charges
Police said Moorhead was charged with manslaughter recklessly causing the death of another person, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.
Those charges reflect the seriousness of the case as investigators continue to examine how the mistake occurred and whether all hunting safety rules were followed. State police have said the investigation remains open.
Moorhead was later released after posting a $43,000 cash bond.
Troopers gave emergency aid before Soto was taken to a hospital
Authorities said troopers reached the scene and began life-saving medical care before emergency transport to a local hospital. Despite those efforts, Soto was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital.
The rapid response underscores how quickly the situation turned deadly after the shot was fired. Police have not said how far away Moorhead was from Soto when he pulled the trigger.
State police continue to investigate the shooting and have not announced any further arrests or additional charges.
Soto was remembered as a mother of five and a beloved aunt
Friends and family described Soto as a mother of five children and a “beloved” aunt on a GoFundMe page set up to help cover funeral costs and transport her body to Guatemala.
The fundraiser said the family is dealing with sudden loss while also trying to arrange her burial with dignity. It described the financial burden as heavy at a time of deep grief.
As of Monday evening, the fundraiser had raised roughly $12,000.
Fundraiser aims to help with funeral expenses and transport to Guatemala
The online fundraiser shows how the killing has affected Soto’s relatives beyond the immediate tragedy. The family is asking for help with funeral services and the cost of sending her remains to Guatemala.
That effort comes as the investigation continues in Delaware and the legal process moves forward against Moorhead. For now, police are treating the case as a fatal hunting shooting that began with a mistaken target and ended with a mother’s death.
Authorities have not said when more details may be released.
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