2 arrested for Craigslist robbery in Gonzales - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

A Baton Rouge man and his two young children responded to an ad on Craigslist just before 7 p.m. Tuesday. Once they got to the meeting place, everything went wrong. They were going to buy two cell phones and they agreed to meet the seller at the Magnolia Crossing apartment complex in Gonzales on LA 44.

Jewell Simon and his two children were sitting in their vehicle talking to the seller when a second man ran up wearing a hoodie with his face covered. He pointed a handgun in the victim's face and demanded money. Simon grabbed the gun and a struggle ensued.

"During the struggle he was able to lift me up taking advantage of not letting go of gun and slam me on ground," Simon said.

According to Gonzales Police, the man pulled the victim through the window of the vehicle as the victim held onto the gun. A single round was fired, but no one was struck by the bullet.

During the struggle, the gunman called out to the man selling the phones, using the name Chris. While the victim was struggling on the ground, the seller of the phones began going through the victim's pants and took the victim's wallet. The wallet was attached to the victim's pants by a chain, and the seller of the phones ripped it from his pants.

Both suspects took off running in an unknown direction in the complex. The children, a 23 month old child and a 7-year-old child were in the backseat of the victim's vehicle during this robbery. Gonzales Police Detective Steve Nethken said they were not injured.

"We did a search of the apartment, was able to recover weapon used and we were also able to recover victim's wallet from a bedroom," Nethken said.

Officers went to the apartment and located Zegory Christopher Bell Jr. Bell whom had outstanding narcotics warrants already with this department was arrested and detained.

A girlfriend of Bell, whom he was living with gave consent to search their shared apartment and the weapon used in the robbery and the victim's wallet was located within the bedroom of the apartment.

Zegory Christopher Bell, 23, of Donaldsonville, La., has been arrested in connection to this investigation and charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of illegal use of weapons.

On December 19, 2012 Gonzales Detectives were able to identify the second party involved in the armed robbery as Donavan Bell, 21, of Donaldsonville, LA.  He is Zegory's brother.

Donavan Bell confessed to his participation in this event and has also been charge with one count of armed robbery and booked into the Ascension Parish Prison.

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