Three individuals are set to face serious charges after what started as a Facebook Marketplace deal escalated into an alleged violent attempt at carjacking and robbery in San Mateo, according to details provided by the local district attorney's office and police. Richard Jones, 22, Maurice Griffin, 20, and Margaret Emma Watkins, 21, have been held to answer following a preliminary hearing with accusations including attempted carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon, and firearms possession, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.
Richard Jones (22), Maurice Griffin (20), & Margaret Emma Watkins (21) held to answer following preliminary hearing on array of charges including att. carjacking, ADW, firearms possession, alleged to have arranged purchase of a watch on Facebook and then tried to rob the victim. pic.twitter.com/VByiufrlAt
— San Mateo County District Attorney (@SanMateoCoDA) October 10, 2024
The San Mateo Police Department reported that the incident unraveled at Marina Plaza Shopping Center, where the suspects allegedly orchestrated an ambush on a seller under the guise of purchasing a watch. The ambush culminated in an attempted vehicle hijack, but officers rapidly responded after being alerted around 8:03 p.m., closing in on the suspects who attempted to flee. Amidst the violent confluence, two suspects, Jones and Griffin, were promptly apprehended.
In a subsequent pursuit, Watkins was seen fleeing into a neighboring apartment complex, resulting in a "shelter in place" order for the residents. At the same time, law enforcement officials carried out a thorough search. Eventually, they located her with the assistance of a drone operator, despite her possession of a loaded firearm at the time of capture. The arrest uncovered a loaded Glock with an extended magazine, reiterating the severity of the threat they presented, detailed by the Hoodline report.
