SOUTH BEND, IN – A northern Indiana mother has died after being shot in the head while trying to protect her son during a Facebook Marketplace meetup gone wrong, according to South Bend authorities.
The Marketplace Setup
The incident began when the son of 40-year-old Jean Gragg arranged a meeting at their home to sell a watch. He had been communicating with an 18-year-old buyer, later identified by police as John Harrison Ford, through Facebook Marketplace.
During the interaction on Wednesday, June 10, Ford allegedly pulled out a handgun while inspecting the watch and attempted to rob the teenager.
Fatal Escalation
Seeing the danger, Gragg stepped in between Ford and her son, successfully chasing the armed suspect away from the property.
However, security camera footage captured the tragic moments that followed. As Gragg turned around to walk back toward her house, Ford allegedly fired at her. Gragg was rushed to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the head, where she tragically passed away three days later on Saturday.
Suspect Charged with Murder
During police interrogation, Ford reportedly admitted to shooting Gragg. He has since been taken into custody and faces multiple severe charges, including:
- Murder
- Felony Murder
- Attempted Murder
- Attempted Armed Robbery
