A teenage boy has died after being shot in front of his father while trying to sell his Xbox, according to reports.
The incident, which took place in northwest Indiana, saw Johnny Peluverya murdered in the city of Gary as he met up with people who had agreed to buy his console.
The 16-year-old had arranged the deal on an online sales platform, but Johnny’s father, who travelled with him to Gary, soon sensed something was wrong.
As per nwitimes.com, the two men Johnny met wanted to test the Xbox through plugging it into electrical outlets on the outside of two different homes.
At some time during the interaction a silver handgun was pulled, according to Gary police Commander Jack Hamady.
The teen's father was sitting in the car with him when he was shot to death. The dad was uninjured. https://t.co/3OZQ1VeTA2
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) June 13, 2019
Johnny’s father spotted the gun and attempted to warn his son, only for the 16-year-old to then be shot in the back as he tried to flee.
The teen made it to his father’s car, and the pair drove a short distance before a call was placed to 911 at around 6:05 p.m.
Tragically, though, Johnny was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lake County coroner less than an hour later at 6:47 p.m. His death has been ruled a homicide, with the two suspects still on the loose.
SO SAD: Johnny traveled with his father to Gary, Indiana to sell an Xbox to a person he met over a phone app. During the sale, a man pulled out a gun and shot the 16-year-old to death in front of his dad. Police are still searching for the suspects. https://t.co/HOfPeiYu0s
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) June 13, 2019
They are described as men of African American appearance in their late teens to early 20s. One was wearing a black hoodie, the other a gray hoodie. Both had basketball shorts on.
A statement issued by Commander Jack Hamady urged people who are meeting strangers to do so in safe, public places.
“The Gary Police Department does not encourage buyers and sellers of these online apps meeting at unknown locations,” he said, as per nwitimes.com.
“If you are going to make a transaction with an individual online, you should choose a police station parking lot or a public place.”
Meanwhile, the hunt is now on for the men responsible for Johnny’s death. Police are asking anyone with information to contact authorities and help find Johnny’s killers!
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Rest in peace, Johnny.
