Craigslist Deal Turns Violent; Injures Man

A Marietta man wants to put the word out about two men who used a Craigslist ad to lure him and then tried to rob him, he said.

SLIDESHOW: Craigslist Attempted Robbery Crash

Steven Benton said he responded to a "for sale" ad on Craigslist for a 1994 Honda Civic.

Benton said he exchanged e-mails with the seller, agreed upon a price and arranged to meet the seller at the Extended Stay on Mt. Zion Parkway in Morrow.

“It was an Extended Stay … I had friends who had been foreclosed on, so I didn’t think anything of it,” said Benton.

When Benton arrived at the location with a buddy, they test drove the car and went over details of what he thought was a great deal.

But when Benton asked to see the vehicle’s VIN number and title, Benton said a man who accompanied the seller rushed up against his back, pressed something into it and said it was a gun.

“They kept hollering ‘give us the money,’” said Benton.

Benton said he tried to call 911, but the seller’s associate knocked the phone out of his hand. Benton said the men then jumped into the Civic and took off.

Benton followed.

“I handed the phone to my friend so he could talk to 911 as I drove,” said Benton.

While in pursuit of the perpetrators, Benton said he hit a curb, blacked out and later woke up.

Benton, as well as his passenger, was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center. Benton suffered a fractured elbow, bruised pelvis and minor burns. His passenger, who remains hospitalized, had more serious injuries.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Eric Philips obtained a copy of the police report detailing the incident from the Clayton County Police Department. The department said the incident is still under investigation.

When asked what advice he would offer others who use Craigslist, Benton said cover all of your bases.

“I regret taking my buddy with me. If he hadn’t come, he wouldn’t be in the hospital,” said Benton.