COURT HOUSE — Danielle F. Leroy, 24, of Upper Township was indicted this week on robbery and attempted aggravated arson charges after she allegedly tried to set fire to the Shell gas station on Route 9 and Route 50 in Seaville on Sept 15, 2008.
According to the indictment, Leroy “did purposely attempt to start a fire or cause an explosion at Seaville Shell Gas Station with the purpose of destroying a building or structure of another.”
Eyewitnesses told the Herald, Leroy was chasing a man in the parking lot of the CVS.
The man then went inside the CVS and said, “She is going to shoot me.” The woman then entered the store and went behind the counter.
“She scared the girl behind the counter pretty good. She was throwing things, and said she had a gun, but I never saw it. She then said she was going to blow the place up. That’s when CVS employees started to evacuate the store. The women was then seen attempting to light magazines on fire,” the eyewitness said.
Leroy then left drug store, and walked over to the Shell gas station. She reportedly dispensed gasoline from the pumps and threatened to “burn the place down,” said the eyewitness.
According to State Police, Leroy had attempted to rob the gas station by threatening the gas attendant by telling him she had a gun and would kill him if he didn’t give her the money.
She then engaged in criminal mischief specifically by emptying quarts of oil inside the attendant’s vestibule and on the credit card machine as well as outside in front of the pumps. She also removed several gas pump nozzles and sprayed them on the ground, police said.
Furthermore she threatened to commit arson specifically by attempting to light the gas station on fire. Leroy then pursued the gas attendant across the parking lot and into the CVS located adjacent to the gas station.
According to police, upon entry into the store, Leroy went behind the counter and attempted to rob the CVS by threatening the assistant manager. She further stated that she was in possession of a firearm and she would use it unless she was given the money. She then engaged in acts of criminal mischief specifically by throwing the register terminals as well, as other store merchandise onto the ground.
She then attempted to commit the act of arson specifically by attempting to light numerous items within the store on fire utilizing matches, police said.
Leroy is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, a single count of second-degree attempted aggravated arson, and the third-degree crimes of criminal mischief and making terroristic threats.
The damage to the pharmacy and gas station, according to the indictment, was more than $2,000 for each location. Leroy remained lodged in county jail in lieu of $150,000 bail set by Judge Birchmeier.
Contact Scheeler at: (609) 404-6515 or hscheeler@cmcherald.com