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A Whiting man is accused of sticking up a 14-year-old boy who was trying to buy a used iPhone, charging documents allege.
Giovanni A. Mauna, 18, was charged March 29 with armed robbery and three counts of criminal recklessness.
He was arrested that day and held without bond. His next court appearance is April 5.
The boy told police he agreed to pay $300 on March 23 after his friend posted an iPhone for sale on Snapchat earlier that day. A witness said she and another man drove the boy to the 1300 block of Stanton Street in Hammond for the sale.
The boy’s friend told him to pull into an alley, documents state. Then, Mauna suddenly appeared with a gun, the witness said. He snatched cash out of the boy’s hand, demanding everything he had, charges allege.
As the woman sped off, she yelled for the boy to duck as she heard 3-4 gunshots, shattering the car’s back glass and damaging a rear view mirror, documents said.
The boy told police when they arrived, the friend said he didn’t have the phone, before Mauna appeared with a gun. They briefly wrestled for it, before his car sped off. Police later learned Mauna gave the phone to sell, and do not believe the friend was aware of the robbery, documents said.