UPDATE
#2: 2nd Arrest Made in Shooting Investigation
December 21, 2017 –
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, Newark, DE. 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. 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, DE where Brooks was taken
into custody without incident. Brooks was subsequently video arraigned
through Justice of the Peace Court 2 on the below listed charges and committed
to the Howard Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $165,000 cash bond.
Defendant:
Brooks, James A.
(photo attached)
43 years old
New Castle, DE
Charges:
Robbery 1st
Degree
Assault 1st
Degree
Possession of a
Firearm by Person Prohibited
Wearing a Disguise
during the Commission of a Felony
Possession of a
Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
The Newark
Police Department affirms that all defendants are presumed innocent until
proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
###
UPDATE
#1: Arrest Made in Shooting Investigation
July 31, 2017 – 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. 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. 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.
Defendant:
Thomas Ellerbe, 40
year old
North Union Street
Wilmington, DE
19805
Charges:
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
Wearing a Disguise
During the Commission of a Felony
The Newark
Police Department affirms that all defendants are presumed innocent until
proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Additional Details:
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. 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. The suspects then stole undisclosed property from the victim and fled
on foot. Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder transported the victim to Christiana
Hospital where he was treated and released.
This investigation
is still on-going. Additional details will be released as they become
available.
###
Original Release:
Shooting Investigation
On Saturday July 29, 2017 at approximately 2:17 a.m. the
Newark Police responded to the parking lot of Applebee’s located in the
Suburban Plaza Shopping Center for a report of a shooting. Arriving officers
located a male employee with a gunshot wound. Officers learned that the
employee was walking to his vehicle when he was confronted by two unknown male
suspects armed with a handgun. During the robbery confrontation, the employee
was shot once in an extremity. The two suspects fled on foot. The victim was
transported to Christiana Hospital in stable condition.
This investigation is in the beginning stages and ongoing.
Additional details will be released as they become available.
###