A 74‑year‑old Maryland hunter has been arrested after allegedly shooting a mother of five in Delaware, mistaking her for a deer. State police say the fatal mistake occurred Friday evening.
Hunter Mistakes Woman for Deer, Kills Her in Delaware Field
State police said Walter Moorhead opened fire from a ground blind on Friday evening, striking Santos Maria Chilel Soto as she walked with a man and two children. Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle, hitting Soto in the chest.
Troopers arrived, performed life‑saving measures, and rushed her to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. She was a mother of five and a beloved aunt.
He faces manslaughter, illegal firearm possession during a felony, and three counts of first‑degree reckless endangerment. The charges reflect the seriousness of the alleged reckless conduct.
After posting a $43,000 cash bond, Moorhead was released pending trial. He remains under court supervision as the investigation continues.
The incident remains under investigation, with authorities reviewing the circumstances of the shooting. No further details have been released.
Soto, a beloved aunt and mother of five, was remembered through a GoFundMe campaign that has raised roughly $12,000 for funeral costs and repatriation of her body to Guatemala. Family members expressed deep grief and financial strain, urging support for the funeral arrangements.
