Police ID, arrest Delaware Park shooting suspect

A verbal altercation at Delaware Park in Stanton led to one man shot and another quickly arrested in his shooting Wednesday morning, state police said.

The shooting was reported at 8:55 a.m. in the stable area, prompting temporary closure of Delaware Park Horse Racing & Slots entrances.

Investigation showed that 30-year-old Ruben Rojas of Wilmington, who works as a jockey at the track, got into a verbal altercation with a 38-year-old trainer from Miramar, Florida, Master Cpl. Jeffrey R. Hale said.

Rojas, while seated in his vehicle, pulled out a handgun and shot the trainer in the stomach, Hale said. He then fled the scene, tossing the gun into a creek that runs through the Delaware Park property, he added.

The injured trainer, whose name was not released, was taken to Christiana Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Hale said.

By 10:04 a.m., Hale said, police had the shooting suspect in custody.

Troopers used a description of Rojas' vehicle and the help of a state police helicopter to locate the tan Nissan Xterra, in the parking lot of Prides Court Apartments on Sussex Road near Ogletown, Hale said.

Upon arrival, Rojas surrendered to police and was taken into custody without incident, Hale added.

His 9 mm Luger handgun also was recovered from the creek and later found to have been reported stolen to the Cleveland, Ohio, police department, Hale said. Troopers were seen pulling a gun from the White Clay Creek earlier in the day.

Rojas was charged with assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a stolen firearm. Lacking $123,000 cash bail, he was taken to Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington.

Rojas has not won a race in 17 mounts this season at Delaware Park. His most recent race was Monday, when he rode Unbolted for owner/trainer Galvan Baltazar and finished 11th out of 12 horses in a maiden race on the turf.

Rojas also has ridden at Monmouth Park in New Jersey and Tampa Bay Downs in Florida this year, but is 0 for 24 in 2015. He has been a jockey since 2003, and has 168 career wins in 2,365 starts.

Delaware Park President Bill Fasy, who spoke with police, told The News Journal he was informed of the incident shortly after it was reported by the stables at the back side of the track.

Fasy declined comment about the shooting. "I can't say anything because it's a police investigation," he said.

A state police helicopter circled overhead, but quickly left the area, later circled by news helicopters.

Delaware Park security staff said no one was being allowed in or near that building because of the police investigation.

At the Tack Shop by the stables, employee Paige Panik said the shop opened as usual at 8 a.m., but she didn't see or hear anything unusual. Neither had several customers, stopping in for a variety of supplies.

Several people in the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Office by the stables said they heard rumors but were waiting to find out what actually happened in the shooting.

"It's a very unusual occurrence for the racetrack," trainer Bill Sienkewicz said.

"We usually get along great," Sienkewicz added. "It's like the United Nations here with people from all nations."

He called the shooting "a very unfortunate incident."

Brad Myers contributed to this story.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware. Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.