A man alleges that he was robbed and kidnapped by someone he did business with on Facebook Marketplace.
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The Victim Had Done Business With the Suspect on Facebook Marketplace Before
As WPLG-10 reports, the victim had previously bought an iPhone from the suspect. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Lazaro Nunez-Martinez of Miami Gardens, reached out to see if the victim wanted to buy more phones.
The two met outside the victim's apartment in Doral, Florida, on Friday, Oct. 9. Video shows a white BMW parked outside the complex.
Police said the victim opened the vehicle's passenger-side door. That's when he saw someone lying down in the backseat. He got up and pointed a gun at the victim.
"The passenger in the rear seat pointed a firearm at our victim and told him to come inside the car," said Doral Police Chief Matthew Castillo.
Police identified the man in the backseat as 39-year-old Darian Ernesto Morejon Rodriguez.
The Victim Tried To Escape
Nunez-Martinez drove off while Rodriguez held the victim at gunpoint in the passenger seat.
"He tried to escape the vehicle twice and was actually strangled," said Castillo.
As the BMW slowed, the victim took the $4,000 he brought for the phone purchase and threw it outside. This led Rodriguez to get out of the car and pick up the money. That's when the victim pushed his way out of the vehicle.
"Our victim was trying to keep up ways to survive, and one of those was throwing the cash outside the window, which he did," said Castillo.
Police say Nunez-Martinez then sent a threatening text to the victim.
"Don't you dare do anything because we will look for you, we know where you live," it read. "We will close the business here and we will forget everything."
Nunez-Martinez made his first court appearance on Monday. He is facing felony charges of kidnapping with a firearm, robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon, third-degree grand theft, tampering with a victim or witness, and battery.
Officers also arrested Rodriguez in Hallandale Beach on Monday. He is awaiting a bond hearing.
