Delaware State Police have arrested 38-year-old Joshua Liebal of Wilmington, in connection with a series of armed robberies at New Castle County gas stations this week.
Officials said on August 28, 2024, at approximately 8:10 p.m., troopers responded to a report of a robbery at the Star Gas Station located at 3927 Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington. The preliminary investigation revealed that a masked white male suspect entered the gas station, approached an employee at the front counter, and demanded that the employee open the cash register while holding a knife.
After the employee complied, the suspect went behind the counter, still holding the knife, and removed an undisclosed amount of cash according to police. The suspect then fled in a silver GMC Envoy toward Evelyn Drive.
A trooper searching the area observed a silver GMC Envoy traveling toward Kirkwood Highway and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The trooper made contact with the driver of the Envoy and observed that his clothing matched the description of the robbery suspect. The driver, identified as Joshua Liebal, was subsequently taken into custody without incident.
During the investigation, troopers observed that Liebal matched the description of the suspect responsible for similar armed robberies that occurred over the past two days at multiple New Castle County gas stations police said. Liebal was ultimately identified as the suspect involved in the August 26, 2024, armed robbery of the Valero gas station and the August 27, 2024, armed robbery of the Liberty gas station. Charges are pending for both incidents. Troopers also learned that Liebal had an unknown co-conspirator. Additionally, a computer inquiry revealed that Liebal had a warrant for his arrest for shoplifting, which occurred on July 24, 2024, at the Weis Markets located at 24832 John J. Williams Highway in Millsboro.
Liebal was taken to Troop 2, where he was charged with multiple crimes, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $64,000 cash bond. The charges include Robbery 1st Degree (Felony), Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony), Shoplifting Under $1,500, and Conspiracy 3rd Degree.
County Police have not said if Liebal is a suspect in the Centerville Road Valero Robbery that occurred on Monday night.