What would you have done different?

Prophet

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(CBS 11 News) DALLAS A man was shot and killed late Sunday night after traveling from Waco to Dallas to buy a car.

The incident took place at The Reflections of High Point apartment complex in North Dallas.

According to police, the 21-year-old man responded to an online ad for the vehicle, and was lured up to North Texas to finalize the purchase. Investigators believe that the man may have been set up.

Police said that the victim was about to meet with the seller when he was approached by a man with a gun, robbed and then shot.

"He met with somebody earlier in the week and made arrangements to buy a car," explained Detective R.L. Ermatinger with the Dallas Police Department. "Came up here tonight to pick up the car, that's why he brought the trailer. When he came up here, he was robbed instead of buying a car. He ended up getting robbed and shot."

Police said that the victim had a license to carry a concealed handgun, but was unable to draw his weapon in time.

The name of the victim has not been released.
 
I heard this on the news this morning and it got me to thinking about all the guns I've sold to people over the internet in the DFW area. I always do FTF and now I don't know if I'm willing to put my life and my familys future on the line like that anymore. I hope they catch the person who did this and give them the needle because this looks like it was premeditated.:mad:
 
Face to face purchases should always be arranged in busy areas where there are lots of witnesses. If you are selling a gun, go to a shooting range. Either that, don't do face to face and insist on shipping to an FFL. As for cars, it gets a lot trickier. Even if you meet in a public area, the person will want to take a test drive. The best thing to do is not go alone. This goes for buying or selling. Have your companion ride in the back seat since it is harder for someone to attack you. You might also want to arrive earlier that your scheduled time to scope the place out. It if does not look legit, leave in a hurry.
 
Yea I buy and sell guns from DFW area also I also buy things from Craigslist all the time in the area like I just bought a Seadoo and I was getting alittle scared while going and picking it up because the guy I was following took me way way far out into the country down a winding road to his house. But I was ready while pulling into his house 1911 was in position 1.
 
Prophet...

If you were buying a Seadoo, who not have the guy bring it to some place you can try it to make sure it runs well? If you go to a lake or beach, there would be plenty of witnesses and much less chance of something happening.

For other items you buy from Craigs list, I would meet in a mall (maybe the food court) or a Starbucks. The mall is probably a better bet since there are more people and you have multiple exits (prevents the person from following you). One other idea is to ask the person to fax you an id so you can know them when you see them. Of course you will also have some trackable info on them as well.
 
Thanks for the tips. But when I bought the Seadoo it was still Feb. So the water was super cold and there wouldn't have been anyone at the lake anyway. But the other tips were good. Thanks again.
 
I have bought and sold over the internet hundreds of times as well have my friends and everything went good. This incident won't change the way I do things but could serve as a reminder for those that think nothing will happen. It just may.....

You can't prevent everything, anybody can be gotten at anytime.

It is hard to judge this incident without knowing the complete details of what happened.... Little things make big differences....
 
:) I occasionally sell guns from advertisements. I never bring anyone to my home; and, yes, I like to meet, 'unknowns' in the parking lot of the local police station. I've got two rules: First, give me your home phone number; (which I will test) and, second, make sure you come alone!

If I'm comfortable with a prospective purchaser, then, he gets to follow me over to a gun club where everybody and everything is on 24 hour video surveillance.
 
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