BALTIMORE, MD – An 18-year-old man is facing murder charges after the fatal shooting of Carlos Carrazana Ricardo, also 18, during a thwarted car purchase on Facebook Marketplace. Marques Harris is accused of the violent crime that took place on November 26, according to the Baltimore Police Department.
Reports from authorities state that Ricardo was discovered on the evening of November 26 with a gunshot wound to his head. Harris was arrested on Dec 2. Ricardo, a high school student who relocated from Cuba to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2022, was known for his fondness of cars and football, as stated in his obituary.
As CBS News reported, Ricardo had traveled 80 miles with a friend to Baltimore for a car deal facilitated by Facebook’s Marketplace. After deciding against the purchase and driving away, Ricardo was reportedly shot in the head. The young man was then rushed to the Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities say that Ricardo’s friend took control of the car after Ricardo was shot and eventually crashed while seeking help. According to reports, the phone number used for the transaction on Facebook Marketplace was traced back to Harris.
After Ricardo’s friend identified Harris, police arrested the suspect at his residence, where a handgun was uncovered. In his statement to the police, Harris admitted to listing the vehicle on Facebook Marketplace, claiming that he heard gunshots after the sale fell through and then retreated to his brother’s vehicle.
Harris is slated for a preliminary hearing in court on January 3. In the meantime, Angie Barnett from the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland urged shoppers to ensure they are not alone during transactions on Facebook Marketplace.
During this traumatic period, Dr. Justin Reese, the principal of Ricardo’s school, requested the public to remember Carlos’ loved ones, friends, staff, and students.