NEW CASTLE, DE — A local man has been arrested following a violent incident that occurred Friday night at a New Castle Wawa, said Delaware State Police.
Murray Fleming, age 45 of New Castle, Delaware has been charged with Kidnapping First Degree (Felony), 3 counts of Aggravated Menacing (Felony), 3 counts of Terroristic Threatening, and numerous other criminal offenses.
The criminal complaint alleges that on September 1, 2023, at approximately 8:38 p.m., troopers responded to the Wawa located at 7 East Commons Boulevard, New Castle, for a report of a man chasing a woman around the store with a knife.
Troopers learned that during an argument between the suspect, identified as Murray Fleming, and a 37-year-old acquaintance, he hit her and threatened to kill her while displaying a knife. A 32-year-old Wawa employee witnessed the attack and aided the woman by telling her to lock herself into an office in the back of the store.
The victim was able to get away from Fleming and lock herself in the office. Fleming then forcefully grabbed the Wawa employee as she was trying to escape, held the knife against her throat, and demanded she open the locked office door, or he’d kill her. The victim complied and Fleming shoved her away to grab the 37-year-old acquaintance.
A 47-year-old patron entered the store and witnessed Fleming threatening to kill the 37-year-old acquaintance with a knife while he pinned her to the ground. The man intervened and struck Fleming with a display stand, which caused Fleming to start chasing the man with the knife. Fleming threatened to kill the man while chasing him around the parking lot until officers took him into custody.
Officers from the New Castle City Police Department and the New Castle County Police Department arrived at the scene and took Fleming into custody without incident. No one was injured during the incident.
Fleming was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $67,000 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police are still actively investigating this incident. Troopers are asking for anyone with information regarding this case to contact Corporal Z. Sherwood at Troop 2 by calling 302-834-2620. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Information, a criminal complaint, or an arrest is not a declaration of guilt. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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