A Kent teen is bruised and fearful after being attacked in Renton, in broad daylight, over a few pairs of high-end sneakers.

“R.J.” said he only wants to be identified by initials out of fear of retribution. He said he makes money by buying expensive basketball shoes when they’re first released and then reselling them on Craigslist or Facebook, often for twice the price. He showed KIRO 7 some of the 70 pairs of basketball shoes he has stuffed in his closet.

“I like the shoes, but I’m more in it for the money,” R.J. said.

He also showed us his head injuries that remain more than a week after he was assaulted while attempting to sell three pairs to strangers.

“Before I know it, I wake up and there’s blood all over my clothes,” he said. “And then I realize these guys must have hit me in the face.

He said he had arranged to sell three pairs to a man in the parking lot of the Renton Community Center. Instead of one man, two men arrived in a car, and two women were with them.

“They were talking a lot and seemed like they were stalling,” he said.

The next thing he knew, he awoke, covered in blood, and the shoes were gone.

“They must have hit me when I wasn’t looking because I don’t remember getting hit,” R.J. said. “I don’t remember the punch.

“They’re bad people, and they probably will do it again and have done it before,” he added.

R.J.’s father and girlfriend said they hope police catch the assailants soon.

“It worries me that they’re not caught and this is kind of a gateway to the next level of stabbing or shooting to get what they want,” said Cassie Landdeck, R.J.’s girlfriend.

The two men remained at large Monday, as did the two women who witnessed the attack.

Police described the suspects as young black men with thin builds and medium height. One had a “206” tattoo on his left forearm.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Renton Police Department.


SOURCE:http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/crime-law/renton-teen-beaten-robbed-shoe-sale-gone-bad/nPLxY/