A Facebook Marketplace watch deal in Indiana allegedly turned deadly when a buyer pulled a gun and a mother stepped in to save her son.
Jean Gragg, 40, survived for several days after the South Bend shooting before dying from her injuries Saturday.
Investigators traced the June 10 encounter to the 2600 block of MacArthur Avenue, where Gragg’s son had met 18-year-old John Harrison Ford for what was supposed to be a watch sale.
Police say the deal shifted from sale to robbery once Ford had the watch in front of him.
The son told investigators Ford claimed he needed the watch and then tried to grab it, WNDU reported.
Gragg put herself in the middle of the confrontation. She managed to drive Ford off, according to police, but the danger followed her as she headed back toward the house.
Investigators said the home’s surveillance video captured Ford opening fire more than once as Gragg ran. Police said Gragg was shot in the head.
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WNDU reported that Ford admitted the shooting when questioned by detectives.
Prosecutors later amended the case to include murder, felony murder, attempted murder and attempted armed robbery.
He also faces a felony firearm enhancement. Jail records showed Ford still held Tuesday in St. Joseph County without listed bail.
The Indiana shooting was not the only recent case in which a family member allegedly tried to shield a loved one from sudden violence.
In Fairfield, California, Jamario Baker’s graduation night turned violent moments after the 18-year-old received his diploma.
Police said the parking-lot shooting happened at Schafer Stadium around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. His family said his final instinct was to shield his 11-year-old sister.
Great-aunt Mary Jones later mourned him online, posting a photo of Baker in his blue cap and gown with his father, Roderick.
“Prayers much needed for my Brother Roderick and family. You may of heard about the shooting in Fairfield after a graduation ceremony.”
“That was my Great Nephew that was shot and killed. Rest in Heaven Jamario. He was protecting his 11 year old sister when he was shot,” Jones wrote.
Baker was killed, and three others — ages 11, 20 and 25 — were injured. The Fairfield Police Department said the shooter or shooters had not been caught.
Footage from the chaos showed bystanders racing toward a person down on the pavement as shots echoed. Parked vehicles were also pierced by gunfire.
Authorities later named Baker as the victim while continuing to search for whoever opened fire. Authorities said about 1,000 people had attended the graduation event.
Police said the other three victims were stable. Investigators urged witnesses and anyone with footage to contact police.
In Boston, two children running a lemonade stand were allegedly robbed at gunpoint by masked juveniles in a crime that stunned their neighborhood and later brought a large crowd back to support the young siblings.
The lemonade stand robbery unfolded near West Ninth Street last Wednesday afternoon.
Investigators said the suspects walked up to the children, took the cash box and showed a gun.
One suspect, 14, was later arrested and sent into the juvenile court process. The second suspect remained at large.
Authorities listed armed robbery and unlawful firearm possession among the delinquency charges.
CBS 4 Boston identified the young sellers as 11-year-old Juliette Byrne and her 12-year-old brother, David.
David Byrne Sr. said his children were working the neighborhood stand around 4:40 p.m. when two juveniles came up.
“This is appalling; this is grotesque. This is something that should not happen to young kids,” he told WHDH-TV.
Before the robbery, police said, the pair circled past the stand repeatedly and then asked about Apple Pay.
The children never got the chance to respond before the cash box was taken. Police said one suspect revealed a black gun in his waistband.
David later described the moment to CBS. “He walked over here, he said, “I might need to take the box,” and he grabbed it with one hand, and then he showed us the gun,” David recalled.
“My sister, she put her hands up, and I just said, “You can have it.” But after that I just was like a little annoyed because we were 12 and 11 and you shouldn’t really do that.”
The box was later found, but the money was gone. The Boston Herald reported that about $50 had been taken.
“My kids immediately just put their hands up and said, ‘Take whatever you want.’ So, I’m proud of my kids for that, and I’m proud of them for basically protecting each other but also being smart in that bad situation,” Byrne Sr. told WBZ-TV.
Jennifer Byrne said the terror reached her by phone while she was at work. “My daughter called me, I’m at work. She was in hysterics, crying, saying, ‘Somebody put a gun to us and took all of our money.’ They noticed two kids with masks over their face across the street they kept coming back and forth.”
She added, “My son is 12. He said one was smaller, he’d guess 10 or 11, and the other child looked a little older, maybe 14.”
The arrest came Friday, one day after police circulated surveillance photos and video. In the footage, the suspects wore black face coverings, and one appeared to carry a black backpack and a pink box believed to contain the cash.
Officials said the arrested teen will be processed as a juvenile delinquent.
“Can’t have a gun and can’t be robbing lemonade stands. It’s as easy as that,” David Sr. added.
He said his children were sad and shaken by what happened, but by Friday, the lemonade stand was back open — this time with a crowd and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu among the visitors.
“I’m feeling supported because I didn’t think this many people would come to this event, and it’s really cool, and it’s just exciting,” David told supporters. “I’m very grateful that they found one of the kids, and I just want to say thank you.”
“I never thought this many people would come,” Juliette said. “It really makes me feel happy.”
