A Salisbury man has been sentenced for his role in a 2022 shooting that injured a mother of three in Felton.

Jared Hopkins, 28, was sentenced on August 13 to 55 years’ incarceration suspended after 14 years for decreasing levels of supervision. The sentencing follows Hopkins’s guilty plea on April 29 of this year to Assault in the First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Reckless Endangering in the First Degree.

“This was senseless, reckless, and needless,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “The defendant’s disregard for the safety of others could have easily turned fatal—as it stands this family is already traumatized. I want to express my gratitude for the phenomenal work of the Delaware State Police and our team to ensure accountability and justice for the victims.”

“This act of violence deeply traumatized an innocent family and could have easily ended in tragedy,” said Colonel William D. Crotty, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “The victim was a mother spending time with her children at home when she was senselessly shot. No one should ever have to experience that kind of terror. Thanks to the tireless work of our detectives and the strong partnership with the Department of Justice, the person responsible has been held accountable. Protecting families and pursuing justice for victims is at the core of our shared mission.”

On October 1, 2022, Hopkins, using a privately made firearm modified to function automatically, fired two shots into an occupied Felton residence. The then-34-year-old victim, who was in the home with her husband and three children, was hit and seriously injured by one of the bullets; she eventually recovered from her injuries. Following an investigation by the Delaware State Police, it was determined that Hopkins mistakenly believed the residence to be occupied by someone who had robbed him.

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