Social Media Seller Beaten, Robbed

Cops are asking for the public's help in locating this car. Police say a man was kidnapped and robbed inside this Toyota Corolla.Photo byPhoto by NYPD

Muggers Pistol Whip Vic, Steal His Clothes

By Dan Gesslein

Queens Voice

May 22, 2023

QUEENS - A Queens man looking to sell items to a person he met on social media was beaten, thrown into a car and robbed of his merchandise and clothes and then left in a Brooklyn park, cops said.

At around 2 am on May 20, a 27-year-old went to a location in the vicinity of 135th Street and Grand Central Parkway to sell merchandise to a man he spoke to on social media.

According to police, as he met with buyer, three other men walked up behind the seller. The group then punched and kicked the man. Then the attackers pushed him into a gray 2022 Toyota Corolla.

Inside the car on of his attackers pulled a gun on him. The gunman threatened the victim and then pistol whipped him about the head, cops said.

The muggers then forcibly removed the victim’s clothes and stole his wallet, credit cards and car keys.

Cops said the victim was dropped off near a Brooklyn park in the vicinity of Eastern Parkway and Rochester Avenue.

The victim was treated at the scene for lacerations to the head and neck.

The car is described as a gray, 4-door, 2022 Toyota Corolla, with New York License plate # KZZ3656.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.