At approximately 12:30am, November 26, 2017, the night shift manager of Burger King located in the Lacey Mall contacted police reporting a robbery. The manager explained to the police that he was locking the building for the night when he was approached by a male subject with his face covered. The unknown male demanded the deposits although the manager denied possessing any cash. The suspect then brandished what appeared to be a black, semi-automatic handgun and threatened to shoot the victim. The manager handed over a deposit bag containing $678 prior to the suspect fleeing north on foot toward Musket Road.
As the investigation continued, the suspect was described as a thin white male, possibly of Middle Eastern decent between 20 and 30 years of age. Video surveillance, phone records, and GPS coordinates from cellular towers were used to identify a suspect consistent with the description provided by the manager.
On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, Detective Sam Della Sala arrested David Ghalee, 20, of Marne Highway, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Ghalee, who once resided in Forked River, was a former employee of Burger King in 2015.
Ghalee was charged with 1st degree robbery, theft of moveable property, unlawful possession of a handgun, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was served with his complaints at the Burlington County Correctional Facility where he is lodged on numerous counts of commercial burglary that occurred in Maple Shade, Evesham, and Hainesport.
Ghalee is being held in the Burlington County Correctional Facility without bail. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Ghalee could be facing 10-20 years of incarceration for the robbery if convicted.