3 Arrested For Robbery And Murder Of Delaware Store Clerk
NEWARK, Del. (CBS) – Three people have been arrested and charged in connection with a robbery and murder that happened at the Four Seasons 7-Eleven store on Sept. 12, 2012.
Vanisha D. Carson, Vincent Stallings and Andre D. Palmer were all arrested and charged for the crime, which happened at the convenience store on Sept. 12, as well as for an attempted robbery at the I-95 Service Plaza that occurred on Sept. 11.
On Sept. 12 at 12:40 a.m., two males wearing masks entered the convenience store on Four Seasons Parkway. One of the suspects was also armed with a handgun. The suspects confronted the clerk, 48-year-old Mohammed Rafique Ullah, and demanded money. The clerk complied and gave the suspects an undisclosed amount of money.
As the suspects fled the store, the suspect wearing the black face mask turned and fired one round, striking Rafique in the chest. Both suspects fled on foot.
Rafique Ullah was pronounced dead at the scene.
Delaware State Police and Homicide Detectives began an investigation into the incident using surveillance footage, evidence and interviews. They learned of another armed robbery that had occurred just three hours earlier at the I-95 Service Plaza, when the suspects fled in what one witness described as a black Ford Taurus. The witness was able to provide the car's registration number and a description of the suspects.
On Wednesday, police executed a search warrant at the home of the registered owner of the Ford Taurus, located on Winterhaven Drive, an apartment complex adjacent to the convenience store. As a result, Andre D. Palmer and Vanisha D. Carson were taken into custody. The face mask worn by Palmer during both robberies was also located.
Further investigation revealed that Carson was the driver of the vehicle that transported both men to commit the robberies. Vincent Stallings was determined to have fired the shot that killed Mohammed Rafique Ullah. He was taken into custody the following day at his apartment.
All three suspects are facing charges of First Degree Murder, First Degree Robbery and related offenses.
