Craigslist Murder: 2nd Teen Arrested, Police Say

TAMPA, FL — A Tuesday meeting between a Holiday man, his son and two potential buyers who answered a Craigslist ad about a dirt bike took a deadly turn when Tampa Police say the sale turned into a robbery. The two Tampa teenagers who reportedly answered the ad now face murder charges.

The police department on Thursday announced the arrest of the second suspect in the case; a 17-year-old boy. A 16-year-old boy's arrest was announced Wednesday. Both teenagers face first-degree murder and robbery charges in connection with the death of James Beck, 44, of Holiday. The 17-year-old also faces a discharge of a firearm in public charge.

According to police, Beck and his son traveled to Tampa from Holiday around 7 p.m. Jan. 31 to meet with buyers for his son’s dirt bike. That meeting took place in the area of North 18th Street and East 24th Avenue, police said. The meeting was arranged, police say, after James Beck’s son communicated with the interested buyer several times.

“They met with the two young men and it soon became clear that the suspects intended to rob the victims,” a Wednesday morning email from police said. “One of the suspects shot Beck and the suspects took the dirt bike.”

Beck died from his injuries.

Police say they found the stolen dirt bike near the 16-year-old’s home.

No further information is available at this time. Patch is not releasing the names of those arrested due to their ages.

Image via Shutterstock