A man was shot in the hip during a robbery around 4:30 p.m. in the 3600 block of N. MacGregor Way on Houston’s South Side. According to police, the victim had arranged to sell a cell phone to at least two suspects he met online, who robbed him during the meeting. He was transported in stable condition and is expected to survive.
The suspects fled the scene following the shooting and are not in custody, according to Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released detailed descriptions of the suspects.
Lt. Crowson stated that the victim was robbed during the meeting, and the shooting occurred during the commission of that robbery.
The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 3600 block of N. MacGregor Way, where the victim had agreed to meet the individuals to complete the sale. The victim had been communicating with the suspects online prior to the meeting, police said.
Officers with the South Central and PST (Problem Solving Team) units responded to the scene after receiving reports of the shooting. Upon arrival, they located the adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the hip. Houston Fire Department paramedics transported him to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Police confirmed he is expected to survive his injuries.
The preliminary investigation indicates the shooting was not a random act of violence but stemmed directly from the arranged transaction.
This incident highlights the potential dangers of meeting strangers to complete transactions initiated online. Law enforcement officials often advise the public to use designated safe exchange zones, which are often located at police station parking lots, for such meetings. These designated areas are typically under video surveillance and are intended to deter criminal activity.
The Houston Police Department is asking anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to contact the HPD Major Assaults Unit or Crime Stoppers of Houston. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to identify and locate the suspects. Police are reviewing any available surveillance footage from the apartment complex and are interviewing potential witnesses.
The victim’s identity has not been released, and the specific type of cell phone involved in the transaction has not been disclosed by authorities.
This shooting adds to a series of incidents in the Houston area involving robberies during online marketplace meetups. Police continue to urge residents to exercise caution when engaging in such transactions, recommending they bring a companion and conduct the exchange in a well-lit, public location.
The 3600 block of N. MacGregor Way is located in a residential area south of MacGregor Park. The scene was secured by police for several hours as investigators processed evidence.
No further details have been released at this time. Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
