HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston police are investigating a Fb Market scheme with no less than 15 victims, and the suspects have but to be caught.
Based on the Houston Police Division, the suspects publish on-line adverts for gaming methods and sneakers.
As soon as the victims confirmed up, they allegedly robbed them at gunpoint.
Among the victims included a household.
One of many suspects, Arlando Lyles, allegedly pulled the gun on the mom whereas her 15-year-old son was only a few toes away. The daddy was within the automotive with their 8- and 10-year-old, who took cowl.
“After I was about to succeed in, he goes like this and pulls out the gun,” 15-year-old William Bernal mentioned.
Bernal mentioned the gun was then turned on his mom, who had the money for a Play Station 5 they have been making an attempt to purchase.
“I believed he was going to really shoot the gun,” Bernal mentioned.
Previous to the theft, Bernal’s mother chatted extensively with the vendor, and so they agreed to satisfy at some residences on Cullen Boulevard in south Houston. Their conversations have been primarily in Spanish.
The one that did this was sensible, Carlos Hernandez mentioned, Bernal’s dad.
He mentioned when the household received there, the vendor spoke no Spanish in any respect. Hernandez mentioned his instinct instructed him to drive away, however he did not.
The vendor then demanded to see the $250 earlier than letting them take a look at the merchandise.
“I received off the automotive then my mother received off the automotive and after I was about to open it, he reached into his pocket pulls it out then goals it at mother prefer to giver him the cash after which he ran with the PS5 too,” Bernal mentioned.
Hernandez by no means put the automotive in park. He mentioned that had the person shot at his spouse, he was ready to run him over.
Based on Bernal, another person held the door in order that Lyles may run again in direction of the residences.
HPD mentioned they’re in search of a second suspect, recognized as 18-year-old Christian Pickett. They’re additionally investigating no less than 14 robberies throughout Houston believed to have been dedicated by the identical individuals.
Hernandez mentioned it comes as no shock, given only a day after the theft, the household contacted the identical vendor on a unique account to see if he was focusing on different individuals.
He allegedly gave them the identical assembly deal with and mentioned, “It is money in hand, ma’am. I only recently had a number of unhealthy experiences, not something towards you.”
“It simply proves to me to not belief anybody on the web,” Bernal mentioned.
Based on court docket data, HPD found it was Lyles by tracing his Fb account and exhibiting the household picture lineups.
As a father, simply someday out from Thanksgiving, Hernandez is grateful everybody might be current on the dinner desk.
For updates on this story, comply with Alex Bozarjian on Fb, X and Instagram.
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