Michigan Teen Johnathan Clements Shot Dead During Phony Craigslist Transaction, Say Police

(CBS/WWJ/AP) Police say a Michigan teen attempting to purchase a cell phone through Craigslist was fatally shot in the chest Tuesday night by the purported seller, who was more interested in robbing the Macomb County resident.

Johnathan Clements, 19, of Hazel Park innocently posted an ad in the "wanted" section of Craigslist and invited a seller who claimed to be from Southfield, 7 miles east, to his home around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hazel Park Police Lt. Michael Kolp told The Detroit Free Press.

The seller arrived at the home Clements shares with his aunt, Renee Bommarito, and his two young cousins, ages 6 and 12 around 7:30 claiming he had gotten lost on the way.

Bommarito was inside the house with her two boys when all of a sudden they heard two pops coming from outside.

"We never really heard a shot before except for on T.V., so I would have never thought the sound I heard was a gun or him getting shot," Bommarito told The Detroit Free Press.

Bommarito went outside and saw Clements convulsing, facedown in a snowbank in front of the house and called 9-1-1. She didn't realize he had been shot until police arrived and turned him over.

Clements died that day during surgery.

Police said the $95 in cash for the phone was missing.

Hazel Park Police Chief David Niedemeier has no doubts that the murder was the result of a robbery linked to an ad that Clements had placed on Craigslist, reports CBS affiliate WWJ.

"Unfortunately, there's no way to completely safeguard yourself. Meeting in a public place, bringing someone with you -- those kinds of things are definitely helpful, but there's no advice someone can give anybody to completely prevent them from becoming a victim of crime," Niedemeier said.

Police are still searching for his killer and ask anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Hazel Park Police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-SpeakUp.