WILMINGTON, DE — Two young men have been charged in connection with an alleged armed robbery tied to a social media watch sale in the Woodland Park community, according to New Castle County Police.
Officers responded January 8 to the area of Rhode Island Avenue and Wagoner Drive regarding a robbery that police said occurred the previous day.
According to police, the victim told officers he had advertised several watches for sale on social media and was contacted by a potential buyer who instructed him to park in a specific area to complete the transaction. While seated in his vehicle, the victim was allegedly approached by masked suspects armed with a handgun, who demanded the watches before fleeing in a vehicle.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Unit assumed the case and, following what police described as an extensive investigation, identified the suspects as Julien Dunne, 19, of Elsmere, and John Shaw III, 18, of Wilmington.
On February 25, members of the Fugitive Apprehension and Surveillance Team located Dunne at a residence on Vilone Road in Wilmington and took him into custody without incident, police said.
That same day, Shaw was located operating a maroon Jeep on Faulkland Road. According to police, when officers attempted a traffic stop, Shaw allegedly fled at a high rate of speed before being apprehended near Montgomery Road and Field Road.
Police said Dunne is charged with first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and second-degree conspiracy. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $41,000 cash bail.
Shaw is charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree conspiracy, disregarding a police officer’s signal and unreasonable speed, according to authorities. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $20,500 cash bail.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims connected to the suspects and are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Gino Cevallos at (302) 395-8129 or the New Castle County Police non-emergency line at (302) 573-2800. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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