Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

State Police Arrest Laurel Woman for Hate Crime

Date Posted: Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024

Delaware State Police have arrested 21-year-old Aiyanna Winstead of Laurel, Delaware, for a hate crime and related charges on Sunday.

On Saturday, December 30, 2023, at approximately 1:03 p.m., troopers responded to Taco Chabelita, located at 30661 Sussex Highway in Laurel, for a disorderly incident that occurred the previous evening. The investigation revealed that on Friday December 29, 2023, at approximately 6:59 p.m., a Laurel woman, later identified as Aiyanna Winstead, placed an order over the phone for food. A 43-year-old family member went to the restaurant to pick up the order and was disorderly with the staff about the food order. She initially refused to leave after being asked numerous times but eventually did. A short time later, Winstead called the restaurant and began arguing about the order. During the call, she made racial statements towards the staff and threatened to shoot them and blow up the restaurant. On Sunday, December 31, 2023, Winstead and the other family member were taken into custody and transported to Troop 5, where they were charged with multiple crimes.

Winstead was charged with the offenses listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and released on her own recognizance.

Hate Crime (Felony)
Terroristic Threatening – 4 counts

The 43-year-old family member was charged with the offenses listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and released on their own recognizance.