Delaware State Police arrested Khalil Johnson, 26, of Newark, for the robbery of two Newark area convenience stores that occurred Sunday night, and Monday morning, according to Public Information Officer, Corporal Amina Ali.
Ali said the first incident occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m., Sunday, December 12, 2021, at the Royal Farms, located at 865 Old Baltimore Pike in Newark, when troopers responded to an armed robbery in which a firearm was discharged. The investigation determined two suspects entered the store and approached an employee standing behind the sales counter. One suspect displayed a handgun and discharged into the ceiling. The second suspect then walked behind the sales counter and demanded money from both the cash register and safe. The employee was unable to comply with their demands, so the suspects fled the store with cigarettes and food items. The suspects fled the store on foot toward the north end of the property. The employee was not injured as a result of the incident.
The second incident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m., Monday, December 13, 2021 at the Exxon, located at 263 E. Chestnut Hill Road in Newark, when troopers responded to an armed robbery in which a firearm was discharged. The investigation determined a suspect entered the store and approached the sales counter to make a purchase. The suspect then displayed a semi-automatic handgun and demanded money according to Ali. The employee complied, and the suspect fled the business on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. The employee then locked the door, and yelled at the suspect as he was fleeing from the scene. The suspect turned and fired one round in the employee’s direction striking a glass door that the employee was standing behind. The suspect was last seen on foot eastbound towards Route 72. The employee was not injured as a result of the incident.
Through investigative leads, troopers identified the suspect from both robberies as Johnson. On Tuesday, December 14, 2021, Johnson was located at the Fairview Inn, located at 1051 South Market Street inWilmington, and taken into custody without incident.
The second suspect from the Royal Farms robbery, who has not been identified, is described as a light-skinned male wearing a maroon jacket, dark-colored pants, white sneakers, and a black face mask. The second suspect has not been identified at this time
Johnson was transported to Troop 2 where he was charged with:
Robbery First Degree (Felony)- 2 counts
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)- 2 counts
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited with a Prior Felony Conviction (Felony)- 2 counts
Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony)- 2 counts
Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)- 2 counts
Conspiracy Second (Felony)
Johnson was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $142,000 cash bond.
Breaking Report
Delaware State Police are investigating an incident that occurred at around 3:30 Monday morning in the area of E. Chestnut Hill Road (Route 4) and Chapel Street (Route 72) in Newark.
Sources tell FSU that a male suspect either robbed or attempted to rob the Exxon Station at that location. We’re also told that shots were fired during the incident.
Investigators were observed marking evidence in the roadway with yellow evidence tags near the Exxon service station.
We will update this story when the police release additional details.