WILMINGTON, DE — A months-long investigation into a frightening armed robbery at a neighborhood grocery store has led Delaware State Police to arrest a Wilmington man now facing a sweeping list of felony and misdemeanor charges.
According to state police, the case began on November 14, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., when troopers were called to La Oaxaquena Grocery Store at 107 North Maryland Avenue for a reported armed robbery. Investigators allege that two unknown men entered the store and demanded money from an employee. During the encounter, one of the suspects allegedly pointed a handgun at customers and workers. Police say the armed suspect lost his balance while reaching over the counter and fired a single round. No one was injured.
Authorities allege the two suspects fled the store with cash and an employee’s personal property before driving away in a dark-colored sedan.
Detectives later identified the suspected getaway vehicle as a black Hyundai Elantra with Virginia license plates. On November 15, 2025, at about 9:00 p.m., Wilmington Police located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Ignacio Reyes-Hernandez, who investigators allege was one of the two robbery suspects. State police took Reyes-Hernandez into custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
Through further investigative work, detectives identified the second alleged suspect as 36-year-old Charles Carter of Wilmington and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On January 12, 2026, members of the New Castle County Governor’s Task Force stopped a Toyota Camry in which Carter was a passenger. Police said Carter was taken into custody without incident. During a search of his person, detectives allege they found 9mm ammunition and six oxycodone pills. A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered about 0.68 grams of crack cocaine and a digital scale. Investigators also said Carter was wanted in connection with several alleged shoplifting incidents at Concord Mall and Christiana Mall. The other occupants of the vehicle were arrested on unrelated misdemeanor charges.
Carter was transported to Troop 6, where he was formally charged and arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 before being committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $78,280 in combined cash and secured bonds.
He now faces a wide range of charges, including first-degree robbery, multiple firearms-related felonies, reckless endangering, aggravated menacing, conspiracy, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, drug possession, drug paraphernalia, and multiple shoplifting-related offenses.
All of the charges filed against Carter are allegations. As with all criminal cases, he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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