State Police Arrest Wilmington Man After Threatening Four People with Handgun

Date Posted: Monday, September 7th, 2026

Graphic titled “News Release New Castle County” featuring a Delaware State Police Chevrolet Tahoe parked with Wilmington skyline and train station in the background. A silhouette map of Delaware appears on the left with New Castle County highlighted in blue, the text “BecomeATrooper.com” on the bottom center, and social media icons are shown at the bottom right corner.

The Delaware State Police arrested 37-year-old Bruce Thorngate IV, of Wilmington, Delaware, on multiple felony charges after he threatened four people with a handgun Sunday evening at a shopping center in Wilmington.

On September 6, 2026, at approximately 5:30 p.m., troopers responded to the Chestnut Run Shopping Center, located at 1714 Faulkland Road in Wilmington, for a report that a suspect had threatened multiple people with a handgun. Troopers were provided with a description of the suspect, who had fled from the shopping center toward a nearby neighborhood.

Troopers located Thorngate, who matched the suspect’s description, walking in the Greenville on 141 community. During a subsequent search, troopers recovered a loaded handgun from his waistband. Thorngate was taken into custody without incident.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Thorngate was standing near a store in the shopping center when he noticed the four victims. For reasons that remain under investigation, Thorngate lifted his shirt, revealing the handgun, and threatened to kill the victims. Troopers also learned that Thorngate had a prior felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing or carrying a firearm.

None of the victims were injured during the incident.

Thorngate was taken to Troop 6 where he was charged with the below listed offenses, arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court, and committed to the Department of Correction on a $64,000 cash bond.

Mugshot Image of Bruce Thorngate IV

Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited Prior Violent Crime (Felony)
Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony)
Aggravated Menacing (Felony) – 4 counts
Terroristic Threatening – 4 counts

Disclaimer: Any individual charged in this release is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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