CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – After a 17-year-old was shot while attempting to complete an online transaction arranged through a social media marketplace, the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) are reminding the public to prioritize safety when meeting with strangers.
According to CPD, the teen arranged to meet someone to buy or sell an item, something officers say is becoming increasingly common in today’s online-driven world.
But instead of a routine exchange, the meeting turned violent when the teen was shot.
Thankfully, he survived his injuries.
Chattanooga Police Sergeant Kendon Massengale says to always look for red flags that point to a risky situation from the start.
“Meeting at midnight—say on 23rd Street—to purchase a $10 item that’s normally a $500 item is probably a red flag,” said Sgt. Massengale.
He emphasizes the importance of using common sense and verifying who you’re meeting.
“You’re meeting someone you’ve never met to buy an item. You don’t know if it’s stolen or not—you don’t know what that person may have,” he said. “The biggest thing we can encourage is to use our Safe Exchange Zone here at the Police Services Center.”
To help prevent situations like this, the Chattanooga Police Department provides a Safe Exchange Zone, located in the parking lot of the Police Services Center at 3410 Amnicola Highway.
The area is under 24/7 surveillance and is open to the public for secure transactions.
“We encourage everyone to use the Safe Zone. It’s well-lit, monitored by cameras 24/7, and allows people to make a sale or a purchase in a place that’s going to be safe and recorded,” said Sgt. Massengale. “People even use it for child custody exchanges because it’s neutral and monitored.”
He says the Safe Exchange Zone is free and open to anyone in the community, no appointment necessary.
“Just the fact that it’s at a police station makes it safer. This is your tax dollars at work. You’re close to officers at any given time, and that alone makes it a better option.”
Chattanooga Police are still investigating the shooting, but they hope this incident serves as a strong reminder: when it comes to meeting strangers, safety should always come first.
