COLUMBUS – Police say a man was critically wounded when he was held up when he went to buy something from someone he found on a social media site.
UPDATE: 3/13/19 7:00 a.m.: The victim in this shooting died at 5:12 a.m. on March 12. This is the 20th homicide of 2019 in Columbus.
The incident prompted Columbus Division of Police spokeswoman Sgt. Chantay Boxill to tweet a reminder that police have set up safe areas where such transactions can be carried out.
REAL TALK with SGT. CHANTAY BOXILL:
If you or someone you know makes purchases on social media buy/sell/trade sites listen up & RT.
Too many people are being robbed, too many people being injured or worse, too many of these robberies not being reported.https://t.co/cdcKCPz9oz pic.twitter.com/cjD4IKYpQJ— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) March 8, 2019
Officers responding to a report of a shooting in the area of E. 21st Avenue and Ontario Street in South Linden at 9:38 p.m. Wednesday found Kyle Haseley lying in the street in front of a home in the 1100 block of E. 21St Avenue suffering from a gunshot wound, according to detectives with the Columbus police Homicide Unit.
Haseley was listed in critical condition with life-threatening injuries at a local area hospital.
Police determined that Haseley had gone to the area to meet a seller from a social media sales site to purchase merchandise. Witnesses told investigators that the suspect took money from Haseley, 25, after shooting him.
This incident is still under further investigation:
Anyone with information regarding the incident, is asked to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).