Man arrested after handgun assault during arranged tech sale in New Castle
NEW CASTLE, DE — A Middletown man was taken into custody after allegedly striking a seller with a handgun during a planned meet to exchange Apple products at a warehouse parking lot, ending the incident with an arrest on a first-degree assault charge and a $60,000 cash bond.
Delaware State Police say the incident began around 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 24 in the 2400 block of Bear Corbitt Road when a 25-year-old Newark man arranged by text to sell Apple devices to an unknown buyer. Troopers report the buyer arrived in a dark SUV, exited the passenger side, attempted to take the items by force, displayed what appeared to be a handgun and struck the victim several times in the back of the head before returning to the vehicle and fleeing without the merchandise. The victim was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Detectives identified 27-year-old Najee Chambers of Middletown as the suspect and determined Chambers and the victim were known to one another. Investigators concluded that no robbery occurred, but that Chambers assaulted the victim with a handgun. On Oct. 27 detectives obtained a warrant and arrested Chambers without incident in Bear. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2, charged with first-degree assault, and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $60,000 cash bond.
The case remains under investigation by Delaware State Police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Delaware State Police.
Key Points
- Najee Chambers, 27, was arrested and charged with first-degree assault after a seller was struck with a handgun during an arranged tech sale in New Castle
- The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and the suspect fled the scene before being identified and arrested on Oct. 27
- Chambers was arraigned, charged, and committed on a $60,000 cash bond while the investigation continues