A meeting for a deal through Facebook Marketplace ended in the murder of 34-year-old Victor Gonzalez in Harris County, Texas. The man agreed with potential buyers to sell the goods, but at the meeting place he was robbed at gunpoint. When Gonzalez tried to follow the attackers, he was shot. A 17-year-old teenager was detained in the case, KHOU reports.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Gonzalez arranged a meeting through Facebook Marketplace, a platform built into the social network Facebook for buying and selling goods, but instead of making a deal, he was robbed at gunpoint.
After the robbery, the suspects fled in a car. Gonzalez called 911 and followed them. During a conversation with the dispatcher, he described the suspects' car and reported the direction of its movement. The operator called on the man to stop the pursuit, warning him of the danger.
A short time later, Gonzalez contacted 911 again and reported that he had been shot. When police arrived at the intersection of John Albers and Bauman roads, they found a man with a gunshot wound. He died on the spot.
The suspect in the case was 17-year-old Anthony Castro. He was detained and charged with aggravated murder. Authorities have not officially clarified the teen's role in the attack or whether investigators believe he was the person who fired the fatal shot.
However, according to court documents, the man who picked up Castro after the robbery told investigators that the teenager got out of the car and fired shots at Gonzalez's car. According to a witness, Castro said he “just wanted to hit the jackpot.” In surveillance video obtained by investigators, three gunshots are said to be heard.
It is unknown whether law enforcement officers are looking for other participants in the attack.
As the victim's wife, Mayra Gonzalez, told ABC News, the couple had two children. After her husband's murder, she urged other Facebook Marketplace users to be more careful about meeting strangers.
“Losing the father of my children is the worst thing that has ever happened in my life. They loved him so much. Let what happened to me and my family serve as a lesson to everyone. This Facebook Marketplace – don't trust people. Be careful,” she said.
Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Sergeant Sydney Miller separately warned robbery victims against pursuing criminals on their own.
“Unfortunately, this is what can happen when you are pursuing suspects. I understand that sometimes people want their things back, but they are just property. Remember: property can be replaced. Your life is not,” Miller said.
Following the killing, the sheriff's office also issued a reminder about security precautions for transactions through Facebook Marketplace and other online platforms. Authorities recommend meeting buyers and sellers in crowded public places, not attending such meetings alone, informing loved ones of your whereabouts, not disclosing unnecessary personal information and, if possible, not carrying cash.
