A planned online sale ended with suspects opening fire as victims fled, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — What began as a Facebook Marketplace sale ended in gunfire after investigators say four juveniles orchestrated an armed robbery, lured the victims to an apartment complex and opened fire as they fled.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred on the night of July 18 on Ebenezer Church Road.

According to investigators, the victims traveled to the area to sell a Spyder-brand sweatshirt to a buyer they had connected with through Facebook Marketplace.

The suspect briefly met with the victims before returning to an apartment, deputies said. A short time later, the suspect emerged with several additional suspects, some of whom were armed.

Investigators allege the victims fled in their vehicle as the suspects opened fire. During the encounter, the sweatshirt was stolen.

As detectives processed the scene, they determined the suspects had entered a vacant apartment through a window before the robbery and used it to wait for the victims. The suspects fled on foot before deputies arrived.

After executing multiple search warrants, conducting surveillance and reviewing evidence, detectives identified and arrested four juvenile suspects. Investigators also recovered the stolen sweatshirt.

Each juvenile is charged with two counts of attempted aggravated malicious wounding, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle and one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

All four juveniles were taken to the Rappahannock Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

The sheriff’s office reminded residents that designated Safe Exchange Zones are available outside the Humphrey Building at 1225 Courthouse Road in Stafford for online marketplace transactions.

The charges are allegations, and the juveniles are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Key Points

• Detectives say a Facebook Marketplace sale was used to lure victims into an armed robbery.
• Four juveniles were arrested after investigators linked them to the shooting and robbery.
• The victims escaped after suspects allegedly opened fire, and the stolen sweatshirt was recovered.