Police warn online shoppers after man was held at gunpoint during Facebook Marketplace exchange in Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock police are investigating a robbery after a man said he was held at gunpoint during a Facebook marketplace exchange.

Matthew Prichard said he lives in Tennessee but came to Little Rock for work. He said last Thursday while he was on Facebook Marketplace he saw that a PlayStation was for sale for $250, something he wanted to buy for his son.

He said the seller told him to meet at a home in Little Rock, but when he went to the house, he said it didn’t look like anyone lived there. Prichard said he was walking back to his car when two men came from around the house to talk to him about the exchange before everything went wrong.

“I said I would do the counting of the money and that’s when a third person came around the corner with a hoodie and pulled a gun on me,” Prichard said.

Prichard said he handed over the money and when they let him leave and he went to a safe location and called the police.

“$250 was not worth my life and my kids losing me as their father,” Prichard said.

Little Rock Police Department public information officer Johnathan Tolentino said these types of robberies happen yearly.

Tolentino said that if people find themselves in this situation, they should do several things to keep themselves safe.

“Save any screenshots of messages between you and the seller, get a description of the person or people involved and call 911 when you’re safe,” Tolentino said.

He said if someone is held at gunpoint for an exchange of money during a purchase, they should try to remain calm.

“Don’t try to fight back with what’s going on,” Tolentino said. “I know a lot of times it’s for money, but your life is more valuable than a few hundred dollars.”

Tolentino suggested that people meet at a safe location during any online exchange that requires them to meet in person.

“We recommend doing it at a police station,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said Prichard’s case is still being investigated and if anybody is a victim of a robbery, they should call the police.

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