An online deal spiraled into a crime scene in Gaithersburg, where a Facebook Marketplace transaction turned into a harrowing attempted carjacking. On July 22, what was intended to be the simple sale of a BMW took a dangerous turn when the prospective buyers revealed a handgun and demanded the car keys from the seller.
According to Montgomery County Police Department's press release, the seller, confronted by 18-year-old Julian Chase Rose of Beltsville and 19-year-old Prince Chukang of Silver Spring, managed to escape by dropping the keys and running for safety. Meanwhile, making their escape, the suspects, accompanied by a third accomplice, 20-year-old Kendric Rock of Silver Spring, fled the scene in a 2019 Infiniti Q50 that had been stolen earlier in the month.
Officers from several district stations responded promptly to the incident at around 8:01 p.m. the same day. In hot pursuit, law enforcement tracked the suspects who ended up crashing the Infiniti. Trying to escape on foot after the crash, all three individuals were swiftly apprehended. The police recovered firearms and ammunition during the arrest, adding to the gravity of the charges the suspects now face.
The three have been charged with attempted armed carjacking, among other firearm-related offenses, and are being held without bond, as disclosed in the same press release. The Montgomery County Police emphasize the need for caution during online sale meetups, reminding the public that safe exchange zones are offered at all six of the County's police district stations, providing a secure setting for such transactions.
