A Facebook Marketplace deal in downtown Las Vegas turned into a nightmare on Feb. 17, when a meetup near Maryland Parkway and Bonanza ended with a man in the hospital and a truck speeding away. The victim, identified by relatives as Nicholas Norris, had gone to a friend’s house for the transaction and instead wound up with severe injuries and months of recovery ahead, according to his family, who are now pleading for help identifying the people seen on video.
Video Shows Group Chasing Man Before Truck Slams Into Him
Surveillance footage obtained by News 3 Las Vegas shows a black SUV stop on the wrong side of the street, several people jump out and appear to chase Norris, and a silver truck then strike him. The station reports that three vehicles can be seen fleeing afterward. According to the outlet, the video was recorded near Maryland Parkway and Bonanza and does not capture a license plate on the pickup, which the report notes had visible front-end damage.
Injured Shopper Says He Was Blamed For His Own Injuries
“So I woke up in the hospital ... he's telling me that it was my fault that I got ran over,” Norris told News 3 Las Vegas. The outlet reported that a traffic document provided to Norris assigned him fault for “running into traffic.” Norris disputes that conclusion and points to the severity of his injuries as evidence that this was no minor brush-by avoidance. He told the station he suffered fractures to his elbow, ribs, pelvis and spinal cord, two broken vertebrae, five broken facial bones and extensive road rash. Norris also said his wallet and phone were taken after he was hit, and that his family has been scrambling to coordinate his care while he recovers in California.
Family Turns To GoFundMe And Public For Help
Norris’ relatives have launched a GoFundMe to help cover mounting medical bills, therapy and lost wages. The organizer writes that Norris faces ongoing surgeries and a long rehabilitation process. The fundraiser lists many of the injuries he shared with reporters and had raised nearly $2,000 by late February. The family says they are counting on the surveillance footage to jog memories and help track down the people and vehicles involved.
Metro Asks Witnesses To Share Tips And Video
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police are asking anyone with information, including additional video, to reach out. Tips and reports can be filed online or through the department’s non-emergency line, according to the LVMPD filing page. For non-emergency assistance, the department directs callers to (702) 828-3111 or its online reporting tools. Metro notes that preserving original video files and noting the exact date, time and location of any footage can make a real difference for investigators.
Facebook Marketplace Meetups Have Turned Ugly Before
Violence tied to Facebook Marketplace deals has surfaced across the Las Vegas Valley in recent months, with reports of supposedly routine sales that turned into robberies or physical confrontations. Hoodline previously covered a December case in which a father and son were robbed at gunpoint during what was supposed to be an e-bike sale, a reminder that private meetups can go sideways fast. That report urged buyers and sellers to meet in public or at police exchange locations instead of at private homes. Police and consumer-safety experts similarly recommend meeting in public, well-lit areas or at official exchange sites to cut down on risk.
Anyone who recognizes the people or vehicles seen in the surveillance footage is asked to contact LVMPD or submit a tip through the department’s online portal. No arrests had been announced at the time of reporting, and Norris’ family says their focus is on ensuring that someone is held accountable while he works through a long recovery.
