UPDATE: On Jan. 19, Newark Police announced the arrest of Rasean Henry, 23, of Bear, Delaware. He was identifited as a suspect and turned himself in voluntarily. The police still have an acive arrest warrant for Curtis Bridges, 19, of Newark, Delaware, for charges related to his involvment in this incident.

The Newark Police Department is investigating an attempted robbery of three University of Delaware students that occurred at 10:20 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9, at a residence in the unit block of North Street. 

Officers responded to the residence after the victims, ages 20, 20 and 22, reported a robbery in progress. One of the responding officers observed three suspects jumping out of a lower-level window of the house as he arrived and engaged in a foot pursuit as the suspects fled. The officer was able take one of the suspects into custody while he was attempting to hide in a nearby dumpster. 

The suspect, a 17-year-old juvenile from Newark, who was wearing a mask at the time, was arrested without incident. After conducting a search of the area, officers were unable to locate the other suspects.

Detectives interviewed the victims who said that multiple suspects entered their residence, possibly through a window, and threatened them with a handgun. The victims said they attempted to flee or hide as the suspects entered the house, and one of the suspects fired a handgun in their direction. No one was shot or injured, and one of the victims was able to call the police while the suspects were still in the house. 

The suspects were described as wearing dark clothes with masks and/or hoods covering their faces. Crime scene investigators later discovered what is believed to be a bullet hole inside the residence. At this time, nothing has been determined to have been stolen.

The juvenile suspect was arrested on charges of home invasion, first degree reckless endangerment, second degree conspiracy and first degree attempted robbery. He was video arraigned in front of Justice of the Peace Court 11 and given $112,000 cash bail. He was later committed to the New Castle County Detention Center.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Detective Skinner at JSkinner@newark.de.us or 302-366-7100 extension 3135.

UD resources

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