Executive Summary
- Three East Tennessee residents were arrested following an armed robbery in Hot Springs, N.C.
- The incident involved a firearm sale arranged on Facebook Marketplace, which prohibits such transactions.
- The suspects allegedly held the seller at gunpoint before stealing the item.
- Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Morristown Police Department coordinated the arrests.
HOT SPRINGS, N.C. — Three individuals from East Tennessee have been arrested and charged in connection with an armed robbery in North Carolina that originated from an attempted firearm sale arranged via social media. The suspects are accused of arranging a meeting to purchase a weapon before allegedly robbing the seller at gunpoint.
According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), the incident occurred on Sunday when a seller met a prospective buyer at a Dollar General in Hot Springs. The victim reported to investigators that he had listed a firearm for sale on Facebook Marketplace, despite the platform’s policy explicitly prohibiting the private purchase, sale, or trade of firearms and ammunition. During the interaction, the victim stated that a man produced a gun, pointed it at him, and fled the scene with the listed firearm.
Investigators with the MCSO coordinated with the Morristown Police Department in Tennessee to identify and locate the suspects. Authorities subsequently arrested 21-year-old Hailey Jackson of Greeneville, 18-year-old Gage Flora of Mooresburg, and 31-year-old Ishaih White of Morristown. Sheriff Harwood credited the arrests to the coordinated efforts between the agencies, emphasizing a commitment to “aggressive enforcement” and inter-agency cooperation to remove dangerous individuals from the community.
Cross-Border Enforcement and Safety Protocols
This case underscores the inherent risks associated with arranging in-person transactions for prohibited items through online platforms. The successful apprehension of the suspects highlights the operational capability of local law enforcement to coordinate effectively across state lines when dealing with fleeing suspects. As the investigation transitions to the judicial phase, the immediate procedural focus remains on the extradition of the three suspects from Tennessee to North Carolina to face charges. It is important to note that all individuals named in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
