Newark – After a lengthy investigation, the Newark Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit has arrested a second suspect, 43-year-old James A. Brooks, for a 7/29/17 shooting and robbery that occurred in the Applebees parking lot, 630 Suburban Drive, according to Lt. Fred Nelson.
Nelson said Brooks was developed as a suspect through the use of both public and private surveillance cameras, which captured a vehicle he is known to operate leaving the scene of the shooting.
Detectives also received additional information linking Brooks to this incident through witness interviews and evidence that was recovered during their investigation, according to Nelson. On 12/20/17 officers from the Newark SWAT Team and the Criminal Investigations Unit executed search and arrest warrants at a residence in the in the 100 block of Carriage Way, New Castle where Brooks was taken into custody without incident.
Brooks was subsequently video arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court 2 on the charges of Robbery 1st Degree, Assault 1st Degree, Possession of a Firearm by Person Prohibited and Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony. he was then committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $165,000 cash bond.
First Arrest
Newark – The Newark Police Criminal Investigations Unit has arrested 40-year-old Thomas Ellerbe of Wilmington for the early morning shooting and robbery at the Applebee’s parking lot in Suburban Plaza, according to Newark Police. Officials said through the use of both public and private surveillance cameras, detectives were able to identify a suspect vehicle and its license plate as it fled from the scene of the shooting.
Armed with this information, detectives obtained a search warrant and an arrest warrant for Thomas Ellerbe. On today’s date, at 6:00 a.m., The Newark/Middletown SWAT team, with the assistance of the Wilmington Police Department, executed the search and arrest warrants in the 400 block of North Union Street, Wilmington.
Ellerbe was taken into custody without incident and transported to Newark Police Headquarters. Evidence obtained during the searches further linked Ellerbe to the incident, according to authorities Thomas Ellerbe was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institute in lieu of $210,000 cash bail.
Officials said that on Saturday July 29, 2017 at approximately 2:17 a.m. the 38-year-old male victim was walking to his vehicle after closing the business when he was approached by two unknown suspects. Both suspects were wearing masks over their faces and one was armed with a handgun, accroing to police. The suspects attempted to force the employee to go back into the business, when the victim refused, one of the suspects shot the victim in the leg and then the suspects then stole undisclosed property from the victim and fled on foot, added police. Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder transported the victim to Christiana Hospital where he was treated and released.
Ellerbe is charged with Robbery 1st Degree, Assault 1st Degree, Attempted Kidnapping First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony.