Delaware State Police are searching for a suspect who held up a New Castle gas station at knifepoint Monday night, then led officers on a short pursuit before abandoning his vehicle in Wilmington.
Authorities responded to the Shell station on 3001 New Castle Avenue around 7:30 p.m. on May 4, 2026, following reports of an armed robbery. According to investigators, a male suspect brandishing a knife confronted the store clerk and ordered them to hand over cash from the register. The employee cooperated with the demand, and the robber escaped with an unknown sum of money, fleeing the scene in a white Ford Taurus. The clerk was not harmed in the incident.
Officers spotted the Ford a short time afterward in Wilmington and tried to pull the vehicle over. The driver refused to stop and sped away, sparking a brief chase. Though troopers initially lost track of the car during the pursuit, they later discovered it had been ditched near the intersection of Wilson Street and East 13th Street.
Police describe the wanted suspect as a male standing roughly 6 feet 2 inches tall, who was last seen wearing a brown sweatshirt and dark-colored pants.
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit is handling the ongoing investigation. Authorities are asking anyone with relevant information to reach out to Detective B. Timmons at (302) 365-8434. Tips can also be submitted through private Facebook messages to the Delaware State Police or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Crime victims, witnesses, or those who have lost loved ones to sudden death can receive support and resources around the clock from the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center by calling their toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). Support is also available via email at [email protected].
