A Miramar Marine was in serious but stable condition Thursday after he was shot several times during a Craigslist sale that became an armed robbery.
Karl Trenker was hospitalized Wednesday with several wounds to his torso after he met with two men to sell a gold chain at a Deerfield Beach apartment complex, according to a Broward Sheriff's Office arrest report.
According to the report, Trenker had posted an ad to Craigslist to sell the necklace and made arrangements to sell it to a man who gave him the name "Galven."
When Trenker arrived at the apartment complex at 603 Siesta Key Circle, two men, Jeff Steele and James Flounory, both 20, took the necklace from him at gunpoint, the report said.
Trenker chased the men for several blocks and during the chase, Steele turned and fired several shots that hit Trenker, the report said.
Badly wounded, Trenker was able to stop the bleeding from his wounds and returned to his car to check on his kids, who had accompanied him to the sale.
Officers responded and found Flounory two blocks away and took him into custody, the report said.
Steele was arrested a short time later after he gave a .22-caliber pistol to a man arrested on firearm and marijuana possession charges, the report said. The man said Steele had given him the pistol and police said shell casings found at the scene were also .22-caliber.
The report said Flounory later told police that Steele had planned the robbery and offered him $200 to participate.
Steele and Flounory were behind bars without bond Thursday. It was unknown whether they had attorneys.
Neighbors said Trenker is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines and is a dedicated father of five children.
"Having a situation like this, where we have a neighbor who's kept our country safe, gets shot here in South Florida over a senseless act, over a necklace, is pretty sad, especially during the holidays," said neighbor Gale Nelson.
