Man shot answering a local Craigslist ad

A man responding to a Craigslist ad was shot multiple times in both legs late Sunday and then robbed at gunpoint, authorities said.

The Bowie County Sheriff’s Office is looking for three male suspects and one woman after the aggravated robbery and shooting in the 6100 block of West Seventh Street.

Deputy Michelle Carrier responded late Sunday to a report of shooting victim at CHRISTUS St. Michael, said BCSO Chief Deputy Jeff Neal.

The victim, Michael Amason,

told the deputy he had responded to a local Craigslist ad from a user who was looking to purchase a cellphone. The user gave Amason her phone number and after speaking over the phone, the two agreed to meet on West Seventh Street in Texarkana to conduct their transaction.

When Amason arrived, he met with a female he said was in her late 20’s with an eyebrow ring, rainbow colored hair and tattoos on both arms. She was wearing a white tank top with a rainbow printed on it and short sport-style shorts. She asked Amason and his friend, Dalton Flint, to follow her to her home to retrieve the money she needed to purchase his cellphone, Neal said.

The two men followed her to an address close to Sunset Mobile Home Park on West Seventh Street.

Once they arrived, Amason said a man took his phone without paying for it. This male is described as being about 5’7” with tattoos on both arms and a flame tattoo on one wrist. He was wearing a dark blue or black flat-billed,baseball-style hat with a white brim, a blue T-shirt and blue jeans.

Amason took his cellphone back from the man, but he said the man pulled a handgun on him. The suspect then fired six or seven shots, striking Amason in both legs, authorities said. While Amason was lying on the ground suffering from his gunshot wounds, this suspect allegedly put the handgun to his head and relieved him of his wallet and cell phone.

At the same time, a female suspect also produced a handgun and demanded Flint’s cellphone, authorities said. As this robbery was unfolding two additional suspects emerged, Chief Deputy Neal said. Little is known about the third suspect. The fourth suspect is described as being around 6’0” to 6’2,” wearing a tan shirt with a red circular emblem on the front of it.

If anyone has any information about this robbery or the suspects, please call Capt. Robby McCarver at 903-798-3561 or submit a tip to the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office app from your smartphone.