74-Year-Old Maryland Hunter Charged After Fatal Shooting of Woman He Allegedly Mistook for Deer

Ellendale, Delaware — A 39-year-old woman was fatally shot while walking through an open field with her boyfriend and two young children, after a 74-year-old hunter allegedly mistook her for a deer, according to Delaware State Police.

Walter Moorhead has been taken into custody and charged with manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the death of Santos Maria Chilel Soto. He is also facing three counts of first-degree reckless endangering, authorities said.

The shooting happened Thursday evening near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road in Ellendale.

Police Say Hunter Thought He Saw a Deer

Delaware State Police said troopers responded around 7:40 p.m. Sept. 18 after receiving a report that a woman had been shot in an open field.

First responders attempted lifesaving measures before Soto was transported to a local hospital. She was later pronounced dead after arriving at the facility.

According to the preliminary investigation, Soto had been walking through the field with her boyfriend and two children while Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind.

A ground blind is a shelter hunters use to conceal themselves while waiting for wildlife. Police said Moorhead believed he had spotted a deer before firing his rifle. The state police release stated:

“Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle, striking the victim.”

The investigation will now focus on the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including where Moorhead was positioned and whether he was authorized to hunt in that particular area at the time.

Boyfriend Describes Hearing a Loud Bang

Soto’s boyfriend, identified as Miniveldo, said the family had been walking through the field when he suddenly heard a loud sound. Speaking through a translator, he told:

“All of a sudden I heard an explosion,” he told the station through a translator. “She had covered her ears and she fell.”

Soto’s daughter, who was reportedly at a nearby house, also heard the gunshot and went toward her mother after the shooting. She told:

“When I got there she was on the ground and she wasn’t like responding or anything,”

The family’s account adds to the details surrounding the moments immediately after the shooting, as investigators work to determine exactly how the fatal encounter unfolded.

Hunter Allegedly Walked Toward Shooting Location

After firing the shot, Moorhead reportedly walked toward the area where he believed he had hit a deer. Instead, investigators say he encountered Soto and the people who had been walking with her.

According to Soto’s boyfriend, Moorhead initially attempted to leave the area. Miniveldo told that Moorhead stopped after being told that police were on the way and that he would not be allowed to leave.

Authorities have not publicly established all the details of the interaction between Moorhead and the family following the shooting.

Questions Remain About Hunting Authorization

The shooting also raised questions about whether Moorhead was legally permitted to hunt in the location and at the time of day when the incident occurred.

State environmental officials told that the area has a permit allowing deer hunting, primarily because of crop damage.

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However, officials explained that individual hunters must be included on an approved list to hunt under that authorization.

It was not immediately clear how far Moorhead was from Soto when he fired, whether he was on the approved list, or whether he was authorized to hunt in the area at that particular time. Those details could become important as the investigation and criminal proceedings continue.

Moorhead Released on $43,000 Bond

Moorhead appeared for his arraignment following his arrest. According to Delaware State Police, he was released after posting a $43,000 cash bond.

He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Sept. 25 in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.

The charges against Moorhead are allegations, and the case will proceed through the court system as prosecutors continue presenting evidence.

The fatal shooting has left a family grieving after what authorities describe as a case in which a hunter allegedly mistook a person for wildlife.

For Soto’s loved ones, the circumstances are especially devastating because she was walking through the field with her boyfriend and two young children when she was shot.

As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to examine the hunting permit, Moorhead’s authorization, the distance between the shooter and Soto, visibility conditions and other factors surrounding the fatal shot.

What are your thoughts on this tragic shooting? Share your reaction in the comments and let us know what questions you think investigators should answer as the case moves forward.