Teen arrested in shooting of liquor clerk

A 16-year-old boy from Claymont was arrested and three others are being sought in the shooting of a liquor store clerk Thursday night and assault of another employee during a robbery near Wilmington, police said Friday.

Obediah York-James was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, possession of a firearm during a felony and conspiracy, said Master Cpl. Jeffrey Hale.

The other three suspects, described as being in their mid-to-late teens, are still at large.

The incident unfolded about 9:15 p.m. at Cutrona Liquors at 4623 N. Market St., where four males walked in. One of them assaulted a 58-year-old employee in the head with some type of object, Hale said.

The injured man ran out of the store and called police, while the male armed with a gun confronted the 66-year-old employee behind the counter, demanding money.

When the store clerk refused to hand over any cash, the gunman responded by firing two rounds from his handgun, hitting the clerk in the upper body, Hale said.

All four bandits then ran out of the store empty-handed, except for grabbing one bottle of liquor from a display rack on the way out.

Wilmington police officers spotted a teenager, later identified as York-James, matching the description of one of the robbers walking along Colony Boulevard near Fox Point and took him into custody.

York-James was taken to Troop 1 in Penny Hill where detectives were able to link him to the crime, Hale said.

The wounded victim was taken to Christiana Hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound not believed to be life-threatening.

The victim of the assault was treated at Wilmington Hospital for minor injuries.

The teen in custody was committed to the New Castle County Juvenile Detention Center after failing to post $160,000 cash bail.

Anyone with information about this robbery or the suspects is asked to call Detective D. May at (302) 365-8439 or use the state police Mobile Crime Tip App .

Tips also may be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards, at (800) TIP-3333.

Contact Terri Sanginiti at (302) 324-2771 or tsangniti@delawareonline.com