An online-arranged t-shirt sale in southwest Houston exploded into violence Friday afternoon when a disagreement between a buyer and a seller escalated into gunfire, leaving both people wounded, according to police. Officers responded to reports of shots fired and investigators worked the scene, trying to piece together how a simple sale turned into a shooting.
As reported by Click2Houston, Houston police said the sale had been set up online and that both the buyer and the seller were hurt during the exchange. The station ran the story as a video news update Friday evening while Houston police continued their initial investigation.
Not The First Time A Private Sale Turned Deadly
Houston has seen similar meetups go sideways. The Houston Chronicle reported a fatal shooting in 2023 after a dispute during a private shoe sale in the East End, a grim reminder of how quickly a routine transaction can spiral out of control.
Other Meetups Have Ended In Violence
Private sneaker meetups have turned violent elsewhere in the region too. ABC13 covered a 2022 case in which two people were shot during a meetup at Sheldon Lake State Park to buy Nike Jordans, underscoring the risks that can come with in-person exchanges with strangers (ABC13).
How To Meet More Safely
Consumer-protection and law-enforcement guidance consistently urges caution for marketplace deals. Officials recommend meeting in busy, well lit public places, bringing another person along, checking the other party’s profile and steering clear of payment methods that offer no buyer protection. A Houston Chronicle roundup of FBI and consumer-agency tips also warns against wiring money or using gift cards for marketplace purchases and recommends using the platform’s built-in protections whenever possible (Houston Chronicle)…