A 33-year-old Ellendale woman made a costly mistake Sunday night when she returned to the scene of a robbery she had just committed — walking right into the arms of waiting Dover Police officers.
The incident unfolded around 9:09 p.m. on July 19, 2026, at the Wendy’s restaurant located at 1596 S. DuPont Highway in Dover. Officers were called to the location after a robbery was reported at the fast food establishment.
According to investigators, the woman and a juvenile male had ordered food and then asked for a cash refund, claiming they were unhappy with their order. When restaurant employees explained that refunds could not be handled at the store level and that the customers would need to reach out to management, the woman grew agitated.
The situation then turned violent. The woman crossed behind the service counter into a restricted employee area and took approximately $15 from a cash register. When a female employee tried to stop the theft, the woman punched her several times in the chest. The stolen cash was then tossed out the drive-thru window, where the juvenile male was waiting to collect it.
The juvenile male also entered the restaurant during the incident. Before the two fled the scene, both suspects made threats to shoot employees.
While Dover Police were still on location conducting their investigation, the woman returned to the restaurant — apparently to retrieve an AirPod she had left behind during the robbery. Officers took her into custody without any struggle.
The suspect was identified as Shadaira Harris, 33, of Ellendale, Delaware. She was committed to Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on a $29,000 secured bond. Harris faces the following charges:
• Robbery (Strong-Arm)
• Burglary 3rd Degree
• Conspiracy 2nd Degree
• Terroristic Threatening
• Offensive Touching
The investigation into the juvenile male suspect’s involvement is still ongoing, according to Dover Police.
