Michael L. Coffey, 53, of Marydel, Delaware, died on September 2, 2023, after a road‑rage confrontation on Halltown Road in Hartly. Troopers were called shortly before 6:30 p.m. to reports of a shooting; they found Coffey lying in the westbound lane with a gunshot wound. Bystanders and troopers attempted lifesaving measures and Coffey was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say the incident began when 27‑year‑old Joel Reynoso of Henderson, Maryland, driving a blue 1998 Nissan Frontier, was allegedly operating aggressively and nearly struck Coffey’s burgundy 2020 Dodge Durango. Coffey reportedly passed Reynoso, stopped in the road and the two men got into a physical altercation. After witnesses separated them, Coffey returned to Reynoso’s truck to retrieve a fallen baseball cap and was struck by a single gunshot to the torso. Reynoso allegedly remained in the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident.

Authorities say the handgun used had been reported stolen from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida in 2015 and that Reynoso was prohibited from possessing firearms. He was charged with first‑degree murder and multiple weapons and related counts and was committed on a $1,084,000 cash bond. Detectives asked anyone with information to contact investigators. Does anyone have information about the events on Halltown Road that evening?