HOLYOKE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – Three people are facing charges after an online meet-up to swap sneakers led to an armed robbery.

Holyoke Police said officers responded to Pine Street for a gun call around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. Once on scene, a juvenile victim told police that they tried to do a sneaker swap with another juvenile. Three people arrived for the swap and reportedly robbed the victim of his sneakers, while one suspect also allegedly showed a gun that was in his waistband to the victim.

The suspects fled the area and after determining their identities, two of them, a 15-year-old boy and 18-year-old Rey Torres of Holyoke, were located on Beech Street and placed under arrest. The third suspect, another 15-year-old boy, was arrested after a brief foot chase on Dwight Street.

Investigators applied for and were granted a search warrant for a Beech Street apartment, during which the stolen sneakers, a large capacity and loaded gun, and 38 rounds of additional ammunition were found.

Police noted the names of the juveniles and the charges they are facing will not be released because of their age. Torres is facing charges including armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child, witness intimidation, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a large capacity firearm, receiving stolen property, and possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony.

Holyoke Police urge anyone who wants to conduct an online transaction to do so at the police department. “If an individual involved does not want to meet at the police department, that alone is a red flag,” they added.

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