What started as a shoe transaction ended in gunfire near a Decatur elementary school Thursday evening, police said.
Two men told police they had used a buy/sell app to set up the sale of two pairs of shoes. They agreed to meet the buyers behind Oakhurst Elementary School as a “safe place,” according to Decatur police spokeswoman Lt. Jennifer Ross.
The men initially met the buyers, two other males, behind the school – but the sellers left early, feeling uncomfortable with the transaction.
The buyers later contacted them and asked them to return.
“They met with one of the potential customers near the adjacent playground,” Ross said, “but he did not have enough money to pay the agreed upon price.”
The second buyer suddenly appeared from behind the school and fired a gunshot at the two men selling the shoes, police said. The victims ran to their vehicle and the other two men fled toward Feld Avenue.
No one was struck by the bullet and no one was seriously injured.
Decatur police see the incident as an opportunity to stress caution while using apps that arrange similar meet-ups.
“The front lobby of the Decatur Police Department is open 24 hours a day and can easily be used as a meeting place,” Ross said. “If a seller refuses to meet at a police department, you may want to avoid making the purchase.”
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