HOUSTON – A Texas father and son were held at gunpoint in their own driveway by a baby-faced teenage suspect who made off with their truck after a routine Facebook Marketplace transaction turned into an armed robbery, shocking video obtained by police shows.
The incident unfolded Saturday in northwest Houston when the pair met up with a young buyer interested in an e-bike listed for sale.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect, who appeared to be just a teenager, approaching on foot and claiming he had walked over from a nearby relative’s house. The victims, lulled by his youthful appearance, let their guard down.
"He looked like a little kid," the father later told authorities, according to reports. Moments later, the suspect produced a handgun, demanded cash and keys, and took control of the situation as the family’s black Ford pickup sat in the driveway.
Video from the home’s security cameras shows the tense confrontation: the suspect gesturing with the weapon, a dirt bike toppling over during the chaos, and the father and son complying as the armed teen climbs into their truck and speeds away. The victims were left unharmed but shaken.
Houston police quickly responded, pursuing the suspect through heavy brush in the Jersey Village area. Officers took the teen into custody and charged him with aggravated robbery.
The case highlights the growing dangers of meeting strangers from online marketplaces at private residences. Law enforcement officials have repeatedly warned residents to conduct such transactions in well-lit public places, preferably near police stations, and to never underestimate potential threats based on appearance alone.
No additional suspects have been named, and the investigation remains ongoing. The e-bike sale never went through, and the family’s truck was recovered.
