The Delaware State Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Wilmington, Delaware, and are searching for a second suspect following an armed robbery that occurred Saturday evening at the Christiana Mall in Newark.
On March 21, 2026, at approximately 6:45 p.m., troopers responded to the parking lot near JCPenney, located at 606 Christiana Mall, for a reported armed robbery. Responding troopers were provided with suspect descriptions and located the 17-year-old matching one of the descriptions. The teen ran away, and troopers chased him across multiple lanes of Route 1 before taking him into custody. A loaded handgun was recovered from his waistband.
The Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit took over the case. The preliminary investigation revealed as two victims were preparing to enter their vehicle, the 17-year-old and an unknown male suspect approached and demanded the first victim turn over their personal property. The 17-year-old produced a handgun while the other suspect removed the victim’s belongings. The unknown suspect ran away with the victim’s property and the 17-year-old struck the victim in their head with the firearm. The armed teen then chased after the second victim while aiming the firearm at them, however they escaped uninjured.
The victim struck with the firearm, a 47-year-old man from Bridgeville, declined medical treatment on scene.
The second suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 20 to 24 years old, between 5’8” and 5’9” tall, and weighing 160 to 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, dark-colored jeans, and a black face mask. He fled in an unknown direction. Initial reports indicated the suspect was armed, however the subsequent investigation confirmed he was unarmed.
While troopers were investigating the robbery, the New Castle County Police Department was already on mall property investigating an unrelated carjacking incident.
The 17-year-old was taken to Troop 6 where he was charged with the below listed offenses, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and committed to the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families on a $55,000 cash bond.
- Robbery First Degree (Felony)
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- Possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 21 (Felony)
- Possession of Ammo for a Firearm by a Person Under 21 (Felony)
- Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony)
- Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
- Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
- Resisting Arrest
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident. Detectives ask anyone who witnessed or has information about this case to contact Detective J. Lucyk at (302) 365-8446. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or has lost a loved one to a sudden death and needs assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.