DSP News Release:  Seaford Police Department Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest in Laurel Gun Shop Robbery, Burglary and Two other Robberies

Location: 

• 30599 Sussex Highway Laurel, DE
• 30685 Sussex Highway Laurel, DE
• 28194 DuPont Highway Millsboro, DE
• 2900 block Dusty Road Seaford, DE

DATE and TIME:  

• January 14, 2011
• December 24, 2010
• December 20, 2010 and December 26, 2010
• December 30, 2010

Victim(s):

• Southern Delaware Shooters Gun Store Laurel, DE
• Cigarette Outlet Laurel, DE
• Uncle Willies Millsboro, DE
• 36 year old Seaford man

Defendant(s) Charge(s) and Bond Information:

• Jeffrey Layton-21 Seaford, DE
• Attempted Murder First Degree
• 3 counts Robbery First Degree
• Burglary Second Degree
• Strangulation
• 16 counts Theft of a Firearm
• 2 counts Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• 2 counts Aggravated Menacing
• 2 counts Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony
• Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
• 4 counts Conspiracy Second Degree
• Theft Under $1,500
• Sussex Correctional Institute 112,000 cash bail
• Michael P. O’Neal-25 Laurel, DE
• Attempted Murder First Degree
• 3 counts Robbery First Degree
• Burglary Second Degree
• Strangulation
• 16 counts Theft of a Firearm
• 2 counts Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• 2 counts Aggravated Menacing
• 2 counts Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony
• 4 counts Conspiracy Second Degree
• Theft Under $1,500
• Sussex Correctional Institute 112,000 cash bail
• Dawn Phippin-43 Seaford, DE
• Robbery First Degree
• Strangulation
• 14 counts Theft of a Firearm
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Women’s Correctional Institute $26,000 secured bond
• Robert E. Layton-18 Bridgeville, DE
• Robbery First Degree
• Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Aggravated Menacing
• Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony
• 2 counts Conspiracy Second Degree
• Sussex Correctional Institute 28,000 cash bail

Resume:

Laurel/Seaford/Millsboro-

On January 16, 2011 the Seaford Police Department arrested Jeffrey Layton-21 of Seaford and Kayla M. Ksenich-22 also of Seaford Delaware following a traffic investigation.  As a result of the Seaford Police Officer’s proactive investigation a search of Ksenich’s vehicle was conducted. 

The Seaford Police Department during their search located two firearms and drug paraphernalia.  Seaford Police after conducting a trace on the firearms discovered they were stolen.  Additional incite into the firearms resulted in the determination that these two firearms were two of fourteen firearms stolen in the January 14, 2011 robbery of the Southern Delaware Shooters Gun Shop Laurel Delaware. 

During the robbery Delaware State Police learned that a 64 year old Laurel man was working in the business when a white male entered requesting to have a knife sharpened. 

Next the victim turned his back to the suspect and then was attacked from behind.  The suspect grabbed the victim and choked him to the point he became unconscious.  When the victim regained consciousness his hands and feet were bound by electrical tape.  The victim sustained abrasions to his face however did not require medical treatment. 

The suspect during the course of the robbery stole a combination of handguns, shotguns and rifles. 

Subsequent to the Seaford Police Department investigation, Delaware State Police detectives were able to link Jeffrey Layton, Michael P. O’Neal-25 Laurel and Dawn Phippin-43 of Seaford to the robbery which occurred at the Southern Delaware Shooters Gun Shop located on Sussex Highway Laurel. 

Delaware State Police additionally over the last week conducted multiple search warrants in the Sussex County area and have been able to recover 8 of the 14 guns stolen during the January 14, 2011 robbery.  (The 8 firearms include the 2 recovered by Seaford Police) The guns that were stolen during the robbery were a combination of handguns, rifles and shotguns. 

Delaware State Police during the course of their investigation were also able to link robberies which occurred on December 24, 2010 at the Cigarette Outlet at 30685 Sussex Highway and the Uncle Willies located at 28194 DuPont Highway Millsboro to O’Neal, Jeffrey and Robert Layton.  During the Uncle Willies robbery Robert E. Layton was the alleged driver of the “get away” car while Michael P. O’Neal and Jeffrey Layton entered the store displaying a shotgun and demanding money. 

During the Cigarette Outlet robbery Laurel Delaware Jeffrey Layton is alleged to have entered the business, displayed a saw-off shotgun and demanded money.  Following his robber Layton is believed to have fled to a nearby mobile home park then fled in a vehicle driven by Michael P. O’Neal. 

Lastly, Delaware State Police while conducting investigations into the aforementioned robberies were able to obtain information about a burglary which occurred in the 2900 block of Dusty Road Seaford Delaware.  During this burglary Michael P. O’Neal and Jeffrey Layton are alleged to have entered the residence between December 20^th and 26^th.  While inside the residence O’Neal and Layton stole two firearms. 

Dates of Arrest:

Jeffrey Layton was originally arrested January 18^th and again January 21^st 2011 Sussex Correctional Institute $112,000 cash bail

Robert E. Layton was charged January 21^st 2011 Sussex Correctional Institute $28,000 cash bail

Michael P. O’Neal was originally charged January 19^th and again January 21^st 2011 Sussex Correctional Institute $112,000 cash bail

Dawn Phippin was charged January 21^st 2011 Women’s Correctional Institute $26,000 secured bond

        Jeffrey Layton                   Michael P. O’Neal            Robert E. Layton