Facebook Marketplace Sale Ends in Attempted Carjacking, 3 Arrested

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Three men are facing charges in connection with an attempted carjacking that occurred during an online sale arranged through Facebook Marketplace.

According to Montgomery County police, on July 22, a Gaithersburg resident arranged to meet a buyer interested in purchasing a BMW that had been listed for sale online. The meeting was scheduled to take place at the seller’s home.

During the meeting, police said 18-year-old Julian Chase Rose of Beltsville and 19-year-old Prince Chukang of Silver Spring displayed a gun and demanded the keys to the BMW. The victim dropped the keys and ran, according to police.

A third man, 20-year-old Kendric Rock of Silver Spring, had arrived with Rose and Chukang in a 2019 Infiniti Q50, which police said was reported stolen on July 1. All three got away in the Infiniti, according to police.

Around 8 p.m. that day, police said the group was taken into custody shortly after the Infiniti crashed and the suspects attempted to run from the scene. Police said guns and ammunition were recovered during the arrests.

Rose, Chukang and Rock were each charged with multiple offenses, including attempted armed carjacking and firearm-related charges. They are currently being held without bond at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.

"The Montgomery County Department of Police reminds residents to use caution when meeting people for in-person transactions arranged online," authorities said. "Designated safe exchange zones are available at each of the County’s six police district stations."