An attempt to sell a pair of sneakers on Craigslist turned into a nightmare for a Fairfax County teenager Monday night.
The sale was a setup for an abduction and robbery that ended when the 15-year-old victim was able to mouth "help me" to a police officer who noticed there was something wrong.
The victim arranged to sell some Nike Air Jordans at the shopping center in the 7400 block of Little River Turnpike. When he arrived just before 11 p.m., he got into a car with four men who robbed him at gunpoint.
The vehicle caught the eye of a Fairfax County police officer in the area.
"The officer noticed the car did not have lights on and was rolling very slowly forward in the parking lot," said Lucy Caldwell, of Fairfax County police. "The teen was able to signal to him that something was wrong."
That officer and backup officers stopped the vehicle.
Police arrested 22-year-olds Marion Kenneth Allen Jr., Cye Adam Penn, Xavier Hall and 19-year-old Bryant Robinson. They are charged with robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and abduction.
Police advise anyone using online services to make a transaction to meet during daylight hours in a public place and never alone.
Follow Jackie Bensen on Twitter at @jackiebensen
