Two 16-year-olds are facing serious charges related to an alleged armed robbery and vehicle theft that occurred in Newark, Delaware, earlier this week. According to the Newark Police Department, officers received a report of the robbery around 17:00 on February 16, 2023, in the 900 block of Wharton Drive.
The victim reported that he was held at gunpoint by an acquaintance and that person’s friend, who had visited him in his apartment earlier that day. Following a request for the suspects to leave, one reportedly produced a handgun and struck the victim several times, resulting in minor injuries. The victim declined medical treatment after the incident.
Authorities state that the suspects took property belonging to the victim, including vehicle keys, before fleeing the scene in the victim’s vehicle around 16:15. Detectives identified the suspects as a 16-year-old male and a 16-year-old female and subsequently secured arrest warrants.
On February 18, police located the female suspect inside the stolen vehicle and took her into custody. She was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and is currently held at the New Castle County Juvenile Detention Center on $42,100 cash bail.
The male suspect was apprehended on February 20 at Newark Police Headquarters when he voluntarily arrived to speak with detectives. He was arraigned at New Castle County Family Court and released on $20,000 unsecured bail.
Both juveniles face multiple charges, including first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree conspiracy, and criminal mischief valued under $1,500. It is important to note that all suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
