Facebook meet-up ends in gunpoint robbery and charges for Brampton man

A Facebook Marketplace meet-up that turned into a gunpoint robbery has led to drug trafficking and robbery charges for a young man from Brampton.

The hold-up happened in Toronto on Friday around 6:30 p.m. in the area of Midland Avenue and Danforth Road when two parties were meeting about a cellphone that was listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

The Toronto Police Service says two men came to the meet-up in a grey 2017 Honda Civic and asked the victim to see the phone for sale.

But that’s when police say the suspect took the phone and went back to the waiting vehicle without handing over payment.

One of the men then pointed a handgun at the victim before the thieves fled with the stolen cellphone, police say.

Two arrests have been made with a 19-year-old man from Toronto and another 19-year-old from Brampton both charged with multiple offences.

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Jahziah Griffiths, 19, of Brampton has been charged with:

• Robbery with an offensive weapon
• Possession property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Possession property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Unlawfully possess automobile master key
• Assault with intent to resist arrest
• Disguise with intent
• Possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of schedule 1 substance
• Possess proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000

Kevonte Murry, 19, of Toronto has been charged with:

• Robbery with an offensive weapon
• Point firearm
• Disguise with intent
• 2 counts of carry concealed weapon
• Weapon dangerous to public peace
• Possession property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Possess weapon committing an offence
• Assault with intent to resist arrest
• Assault with a weapon
• Possession property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Unlawfully possess automobile master key
• Fail to comply release order

Both of the accused are scheduled to make court appearances on Tuesday to answer the charges.

To help ensure a safe exchange when selling or purchasing items online, some police services encourage anyone participating in a sale or purchase through online classified websites or social media platforms to utilize buy and sell exchange zones , like those located at all Peel Regional Police divisions.

Investigators believe there may be more victims and are urging anyone with information about this robbery or any similar incidents to contact the Toronto Police Service by calling  416-808-2222. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.