A Shelby County gun sale arranged through Facebook Marketplace turned into an armed robbery, and investigators say the case has since widened into a weeks-long hunt that netted a stolen key programmer, a loaded Glock magazine and a handgun fitted with an illegal switch. Ja’Vion Phillips, 19, and two 15-year-old boys have been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery and a related case, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
The trouble began on September 26, when deputies responded to a reported robbery in the 5300 block of Ross Road in southeast Shelby County around 3:15 p.m., as reported by Action News 5. The victim told deputies they had listed a firearm for sale on Facebook Marketplace and arranged to meet a potential buyer in person. During that meeting, an unknown person allegedly pulled out a gun and stole the firearm that was for sale, along with two additional pistol magazines, before fleeing the scene.
Detectives Trace a Second Robbery Weeks Later
SCSO detectives eventually identified Phillips and the two 15-year-old boys as suspects in the Ross Road case. The investigation expanded on October 15, when detectives identified one of the juvenile suspects and linked him to a separate armed robbery in the 6500 block of Barley Cove in southeast Shelby County, per the same account from Action News 5.
Five days later, on October 20, sheriff’s office detectives — including members of the Burglary, Robbery and Auto Theft Squad, known as BRATS — executed a search warrant in the 5400 block of Edwin Forest Road in Memphis. Deputies recovered a key programmer that investigators say had been stolen during the Barley Cove robbery, along with other evidence authorities believe connects the suspects to the September 26 incident on Ross Road.
Frayser Search Turns Up a Modified Handgun
The case reached another turning point on October 29, when SCSO detectives executed a second search warrant in the 1500 block of Frayser Boulevard in Memphis. Investigators recovered a loaded Glock magazine, a Glock 35 handgun equipped with a switch, and additional evidence, the station’s report states.
Charging details for the suspects vary slightly between sources. Action News 5 reports Phillips was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and contributing to the delinquency of a child, while FOX13 Memphis reports he faces aggravated robbery, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of a prohibited weapon. He is currently being held in custody, according to the same Action News 5 report.
The charges against the two juveniles also differ depending on the outlet. Action News 5 reports one 15-year-old was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated burglary, while FOX13 Memphis reports that suspect faces aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault. The second 15-year-old, per Action News 5, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and possession of a handgun by a juvenile. The status of both teenagers has not been provided.
Marketplace Meetups Draw Scrutiny Elsewhere
The Shelby County case echoes incidents reported elsewhere involving online marketplace sales turning violent. In Franklin, Tennessee, an armed robbery earlier this month began as a Facebook Marketplace meetup to sell jewelry, according to WKRN. The victim told police three men armed with a handgun, a shotgun and a baseball bat threatened him and took the jewelry, then led officers on a chase that reached nearly 115 mph on Highway 96 before all three were taken into custody and held without bond.
Federal authorities have flagged the broader pattern as well. The ATF has described investigating a series of gunpoint robberies targeting people who advertised items for sale on marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, according to the agency’s press materials. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has reminded residents to exercise caution when arranging in-person transactions through online marketplaces.
