A Crown Point teen faces charges after allegedly stealing Dior sneakers at gunpoint during an online sale meetup at a neighborhood park.
Nicholas D. Tucker, 18, was charged Tuesday with armed robbery, pointing a firearm, criminal recklessness and misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident.
He has not been apprehended and is ordered held without bond.
A witness said he saw a black Honda CR-V crash into trees in the 11100 block of Tennessee Street in Crown Point before two male teens spilled out, fighting on the ground, before one fired a shot, got back in the vehicle and took off to Mississippi Street.
Police later arrested Tucker when they found the heavily damaged SUV. He was evaluated at a hospital. Gas station footage showed him getting out to inspect the damage.
Tucker claimed he was buying the sneakers when the seller pulled a gun on him and fired a shot into the ground.
The victim, 16, countered he bought the nearly $700 sneakers online, then decided to resell. He met Tucker at a local park. Tucker told him to get in his car and then pulled a gun.
“Not gonna lie, gimme that,” Tucker said.
Police later found the victim’s backpack and shoes in the back of the damaged SUV.
The victim gave investigators a Ring video showing him returning home without the shoes and backpack, receipts and Instagram videos showing Tucker allegedly wearing it after the incident.
mcolias@post-trib.com
