A 13-year-old boy was shot dead during a camera sale at a park after two parties agreed to meet over OfferUp.
Matthiew Stavkovy had his life taken on Tuesday, July 16, at Turnkey Park in Kent, Washington, part of the Seattle metropolitan area, after being shot in the torso.
According to Kiro7, Stavkovy and three friends went to meet a man at Turnkey Park after one member of the group had agreed to sell a camera, accessories, and a backpack. The man had responded to an ad on OfferUp.
The buyer called himself “Zedd” and agreed to pay $1,850. PetaPixel doesn’t know the specific camera model.
The meeting was set for 9 p.m., at which time the group met with Zedd who was with another man.
As the two parties negotiated payment, a third man appeared and pulled a gun from beneath his sweatshirt.
The camera seller was shoved to the ground and the backpack was taken from him. Three to four gunshots were fired in the melee.
Stavkovy and his friend attempted to flee the scene once they saw the gun and ran to their four-wheel ATV. But one of the shots hit Stavkovy in the back.
His friend drove Stavkovy to a nearby apartment block where, despite the best efforts of first responders, Stavkovy succumbed to his injuries.
Detectives served a search warrant to OfferUp to reveal Zedd’s IP address. Police surveilled his home and spotted Zedd with the stolen camera backpack.
Zedd was arrested and the camera gear was recovered.
Faysai Jafar Abdullahi, 18, appeared in court on Friday in connection with the murder. A judge reportedly found probable cause for first-degree murder, attempted murder, and first-degree robbery.
According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, a judge set bail at $2 million. Abdullahi remains in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle, according to the Daily Mirror.
A verified GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for Stavkovy’s funeral and memorial fun.
“Matthiew was an inspiration to all those that knew him,” reads the tribute. “He was a talented young man who excelled in every area of his life.”
Image credits: Courtesy of GoFundMe.