*Update – Second Suspect Arrested* State Police Arrest Teen, Search for Second Suspect in Mall Armed Robbery

Date Posted: Friday, April 3rd, 2026

The Delaware State Police arrested the second suspect, a 17-year-old male from Wilmington, Delaware, in connection with the armed robbery that occurred in late March 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 given descriptions of the suspects and located a 17-year-old male matching one of them. 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 armed 17-year-old and an unknown male suspect approached and demanded the first victim turn over their personal property. The armed suspect produced a handgun while the second suspect removed the victim’s belongings. The second suspect ran away with the victim’s property and the gunman struck the victim on 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 armed 17-year-old was taken to Troop 6 and charged accordingly.

The victim who was struck, a 47-year-old man from Bridgeville, declined medical treatment on scene.

During the investigation, detectives recovered clothing which was discarded by the second suspect following the robbery.

While troopers were investigating the robbery, the New Castle County Police Department was already on mall property conducting a follow-up investigation into a carjacking incident. 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.

Further investigation confirmed that the same teen arrested by New Castle County Police was also the second suspect involved in the armed robbery. Detectives subsequently obtained a warrant for his arrest.

On April 1, 2026, the second teen, who was already in custody at the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families, was charged with the below listed offenses, arraigned by the New Castle County Family Court, and remained committed on a $115,000 cash bond.

• Robbery First Degree (Felony)
• Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
• Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)

Disclaimer: Any individual charged in this release is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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