Roanoke Man Arrested Following Armed Robbery During Online Marketplace Meetup
- BTW21
- 3 days ago
- 1 min read
Roanoke, Va. (BTW21) — A 23-year-old Roanoke man is in custody after an armed robbery that occurred during an online marketplace transaction in the city's northwest section last month.
According to the Roanoke Police Department (RPD), officers responded to the 600 block of Westwood Blvd NWÂ just after 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 17, following a report of an armed robbery.
The victim told police they had arranged to meet a potential buyer from an online marketplace to sell a luxury item.
During the meetup, the suspect reportedly pulled a gun and demanded the item. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the scene with the item in hand.
After an investigation, RPD identified Dashawn Zykee Lambert, 23, as the suspect. He was located and arrested by officers.
Lambert is currently charged with robbery, and police say additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.
In the wake of the incident, Roanoke Police are urging residents to use designated Safe Exchange Zones when meeting up for online sales and trades.
These zones are intended to provide a secure environment for buyers and sellers to complete transactions.
A Safe Exchange Zone is available to the public at 315 Church Avenue SW, located in a parking lot next to the Oliver Hill Justice Center.
The area is monitored and well-lit, offering a safer alternative to meeting in public or residential areas.
The Roanoke Police Department encourages anyone with additional information related to the case to contact authorities.