Police: Child Sighting Stops Del City Man From Carrying Out Mass Shooting

Wednesday, August 10th 2016, 10:25 pm

By: News 9

Police say the sight of a child may have stopped a Del City man from carrying out a mass shooting. Investigators say the man was armed when he walked into a municipal complex this week.

Wednesday, News 9 learned that man has a history of mental illness. Yet despite that past, Del City Police filed a felony charge of Endeavor To Perform An Act Of Violence against Jimmy Woolsey of Del City.

The child walks out of the Del City Court complex moments after Jimmy Woolsey walked in Monday afternoon. No one else in the lobby realized the impact that moment had on the sinister act police say Woolsey planned to carry out.

“His intentions were to go in there and shoot at the court clerk's window couple of times to get police response then have a shootout with police,” said Captain Ted Kleber, Del City Police.

But, crossing paths with that boy changed everything. Instead, the lobby video surveillance showed Woolsey handing over his loaded gun to the court clerk and telling the woman he was "tired and he needed help".

Del City investigators, just on the other side of the building, raced to the lobby.

“When he was detained he was taken back into the booking room and that's where he was questioned of his intentions,” said Captain Kleber.

That's also when investigators learned this was not Woolsey's first time to the building. Video backed up his story, showing him trying to get into the courthouse Sunday afternoon, but the doors were locked. Before leaving, he peered into several police units parked at the station, all empty.

Officers took Woolsey to the Crisis Center Monday afternoon.

Investigators have since learned about Woolsey's past history of mental illness.

“This was brought up by his family members and relatives that he has talked about this in the past, suicide by cop,” said Captain Kleber.

Del City investigators say they served a search warrant on Woolsey's home and found more weapons and ammunition.