A man managed to escape from a gunpoint kidnapping in Doral, Miami-Dade, after throwing about $4,000 in cash into some bushes to distract his assailants, during a transaction for iPhones arranged through Facebook Marketplace, according to the victim's account reported by the police.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 9, and ended with the arrest of a 31-year-old man, a resident of Miami Gardens, who is accused of being involved in the events, according to a report released this Monday by WSVN 7News, which cited the police report.
The victim had already purchased a phone from the arrested individual on September 28, without any issues. When he offered her more iPhones, she agreed to meet again near her apartment building, but this time she asked him to come to the back of the property.
As he approached a white BMW occupied by two men, one of them, who was leaning back in the rear seat, suddenly sat up and pointed a gun at his head.
The subjects forced him into the vehicle and sped off while the armed man pressed the gun against his hip.
"We want everything you have; we want your money; we want your business," one of the assailants demanded, according to the police report.
The victim tried to escape, but both men grabbed her and forced her back into the car. One of them even threatened to kill her.
"I can negotiate something, please don't hurt me," the man pleaded.
In a second escape attempt, he threw the $4,000 he was carrying to buy the phones into some bushes. When the armed individual got out of the BMW to pick up the cash, the victim struggled until the strap of a bag that had gotten tangled around his neck broke.
He finally managed to escape and took refuge among the vegetation near a business, fearing that his attackers would return.
Hours later, he received a text message threatening him to prevent him from reporting what had happened.
The detectives identified the accused through the phone number used to coordinate the transactions and the vehicle records, according to the police report. He was arrested on Sunday during an intervention on State Road 826.
The man faces charges of kidnapping, armed robbery, grand theft, and interference with a victim or witness. A judge determined that there was probable cause to proceed with the case and ordered him to be held in custody without bail. This decision does not constitute a declaration of guilt.
The information published by WSVN does not include statements from the accused or their defense regarding the charges.
The case is reminiscent of other robberies related to online transactions in South Florida. In May 2026, four individuals were arrested in Miami-Dade for their possible involvement in at least 11 robberies and six grand thefts, primarily targeting cellphone sellers contacted through digital platforms.
In light of these risks, authorities recommend conducting transactions in secure exchange areas located in official facilities, avoiding isolated places, and going accompanied whenever possible.
The available information does not specify whether the authorities have identified or located the second man.
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