A tragic incident unfolded in Dallas, Texas, when a 66-year-old man was fatally shot while attempting to sell a cellphone through Facebook Marketplace. The Dallas Police Department has arrested 19-year-old Amaya Medrano and charged her with capital murder.
The victim, identified as Ahmad Alkhalaf, was found dead near his pickup truck at a gas station in the Oak Cliff neighborhood on Nov. 8. Police were called to the scene at approximately 3 p.m.
“On November 8, 2024, at approximately 3 p.m., Dallas Police responded to a shooting in the 300 block of South Marsalis Avenue,” the department announced. “The preliminary investigation determined that one person had been shot.”
Alkhalaf was transported to a local hospital by Dallas Fire-Rescue, but he succumbed to his injuries.
According to FOX 4, Alkhalaf had arranged to sell an iPhone 15 to a buyer he met through Facebook Marketplace. Surveillance footage reportedly shows a brief exchange between Alkhalaf and the suspect before she turns and shoots him, fleeing the scene on foot.
Investigators identified Medrano as the suspect based on distinctive tattoos on her face and neck. Police tracked her down after discovering that the stolen iPhone had been relisted for sale on the same Facebook account that Alkhalaf had interacted with.
Court records obtained by FOX 4 reveal that Medrano had pleaded guilty to a stabbing incident in 2023 and was serving a five-year probation sentence at the time of her arrest.
Medrano is currently held in the Dallas County Jail with her bond set at $1 million.
This senseless act has prompted renewed discussions about the risks of using online platforms to buy and sell goods, particularly in person. Law enforcement agencies have urged the public to exercise caution, suggesting that exchanges take place in well-lit, public locations, preferably at designated “safe exchange zones” near police stations.
As Alkhalaf’s family and community mourn his loss, authorities continue their efforts to ensure justice is served.