CROSBY, Texas — A man was shot and killed Thursday after meeting up with another man in Crosby to complete an online gun sale, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
This happened around 3 p.m. near the intersection of Crosby Lynchburg and Gulf Pump Road.
The sheriff said one of the men possibly attempted to rob the other man of the item that was being sold when the shooting happened.
A 17-year-old male who was shot was taken to a hospital by Life Flight where he later died.
Investigators said the shooter stayed at the scene and told the responding deputies that he was trying to sell a pistol when the teen tried to steal it from him.
During a struggle, the seller told deputies he shot the buyer, investigators said.
Homicide investigators said they reviewed surveillance video on the incident along with the Harris County District Attorney's Office. The case will be referred to a grand jury.
The identity of the teen is not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin.
Tips for a safe sale when meeting someone
Law enforcement officials said if you do plan to conduct a sale or transaction using online sites, it’s important to keep safe tips in mind to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
Houston police said one of the most important things is to perform the transaction in a public space – for example, a police station is often a secure area with people and cameras.
- If you can, bring someone with you so you’re not alone.
- Avoid transactions at night. Best to do them during daylight hours.
- It’s better to not do the transaction at your home or the other person’s home.
Here are some more tips.
Avoid displaying large amounts of cash
Before doing something in person, use a proxy or temporary email instead of your most used personal email. This prevents potentially sharing personal information.
Finally, use your gut and trust your instincts. Avoid uncomfortable situations and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.