Three arrested following incident at Millsboro Wawa
MILLSBORO, Del. – An incident at the Millsboro Wawa early Sunday morning led to three arrests.
The investigation began just after 2:30 a.m., when troopers were called to the Millsboro Wawa for a report of a man who had returned to the business armed with a firearm after a physical altercation with a Wawa employee. Troopers arrived at the scene to find the suspect, later identified as 20-year-old John Willy, walking away from the store’s front doors. Troopers took Willy into custody, at which point they noticed minor injuries on his face and smelled alcohol coming from his breath.
The investigation revealed that Willy reportedly arrived at Wawa with a woman, later identified as 20-year-old Olivia Murphy. In the store, Willy got into a verbal argument with a Wawa employee, identified as a 25-year-old Millsboro man. During the argument, the Millsboro man allegedly punched Willy, causing him to fall to the ground. When Willy got up and tried to leave the store, police say the man punched Willy several more times. Willy then reportedly threatened to grab a gun and shoot the man before leaving the store. Willy then returned after getting a firearm from his vehicle and continued making threatening statements while searching the store from the 25-year-old man. Willy allegedly racked the slide of the firearm while searching for the 25-year-old man, who had retreated to the back of the store. Murphy and Willy both left the store again, and Murphy fled from the scene in the vehicle without Willy.
The 25-year-old Millsboro man was arrested and charged with third degree assault, and was later released on his own recognizance.
Troopers found a live 9mm round in the store that was ejected from Willy’s firearm, and found Willy’s vehicle unoccupied near the Wawa. Police towed the vehicle, where a search led to the discovery of a 9mm bullet in the center console. The handgun was not found.
Willy declined medical treatment and was taken into custody. Police charged him with aggravated menacing, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a concealed firearm, terroristic threatening, possession of a firearm while under the influence, and disorderly conduct. He was held at SCI on a $45,100 cash bond.
On Monday, troopers contacted Murphy and asked her to respond to Troop 7, at which time they determined that she directly interfered with a police investigation and prevented the discovery of evidence. She was charged with hindering prosecution and second degree conspiracy and was later released on her own recognizance.
