Armed robber with handgun strikes Facebook Marketplace sale in Barrhaven; police seek witnesses

Ottawa Police are searching for a suspect who brandished a handgun during an armed robbery tied to a Facebook Marketplace sale in Barrhaven on Sunday evening, August 9.

The robbery occurred in the area of Berrigan Drive and Beatrice Drive between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Police say the victim had arranged a sale through Facebook Marketplace when the suspect produced a handgun and took an item during the transaction.

This is the second armed incident in three days involving Facebook Marketplace sales in Ottawa. On Monday, August 10, shots were fired during an attempted robbery on Beaverwood Road when a male — identified as a young offender — pointed a firearm at a seller arranged to meet outside a financial institution. Three people, including a security guard and an off-duty police officer, took the suspect into custody. No one was hit by gunfire, though the victim suffered minor injuries.

Police are asking anyone who was in the Berrigan Drive and Beatrice Drive area Sunday evening and may have dashcam or other video footage to contact the robbery unit at 613-236-1222, extension 2655. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

Ottawa Police remind residents to use Safe Trade Zones — designated parking spaces at select police facilities — when completing in-person transactions through online marketplaces. Five locations are available: 466 Metcalfe St., 211 Huntmar Dr. in Kanata, 245 Greenbank Rd. in Nepean, 4561 Bank St. in Gloucester, and 3343 St-Joseph Blvd. in Orléans.