A second suspect is now in custody after a violent armed robbery in a crowded mall parking lot left one man injured and another narrowly escaping harm.
NEWARK, DE – Delaware State Police announced the arrest of a 17-year-old Wilmington male in connection with the March 21 armed robbery at Christiana Mall, where two victims were targeted near the JCPenney entrance during the evening rush. The arrest comes after investigators linked the teen to the robbery while he was already in custody on a separate case.
Troopers initially responded to the mall around 6:45 p.m. and quickly located a suspect matching descriptions provided at the scene. “The teen ran away, and troopers chased him across multiple lanes of Route 1 before taking him into custody,” according to Delaware State Police. A loaded handgun was recovered from the suspect’s waistband at the time of his arrest.
Robbery unfolded in parking lot confrontation
The Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit determined the incident began as two victims were preparing to enter their vehicle. “The armed 17-year-old and an unknown male suspect approached and demanded the first victim turn over their personal property,” police said. During the encounter, “the armed suspect produced a handgun while the second suspect removed the victim’s belongings.”
Authorities said the situation escalated when “the gunman struck the victim on their head with the firearm,” leaving a 47-year-old Bridgeville man injured. He declined medical treatment at the scene. The armed suspect then turned toward a second ব্যক্তি, “chased after the second victim while aiming the firearm at them, however they escaped uninjured.”
Investigators later recovered clothing believed to have been discarded by the second suspect after the robbery.
Second arrest linked to separate carjacking probe
At the time of the robbery investigation, New Castle County Police were already at the mall conducting a follow-up investigation into a separate carjacking. “Although the incidents were initially believed to be separate, detectives later discovered that the 17-year-old taken into custody by New Castle County Police was in possession of property belonging to the robbery victim,” according to police.
Further investigation confirmed that teen was the second suspect involved in the armed robbery. Detectives obtained a warrant, and on April 1, he was formally charged while in custody at the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families.
The teen faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree robbery, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, and second-degree conspiracy. He was arraigned in New Castle County Family Court and remains held on $115,000 cash bond.
