Texas Teen Tries To Steal Python, But Gets Scared And Runs Away
By Dani Medina
November 11, 2022
This is the classic tale of a robbery gone wrong.
One teenager is behind bars and another is at large after an attempted armed robbery of a snake, according to KPRC 2. It all went down on October 2 in a parking lot outside a Houston apartment complex on Clearwood Street.
Ariel Giron listed her ball python named Chompers for sale online for $200. She arranged a meet with a woman who was interested in buying the snake. When Giron arrived at the agreed-upon location, she was met by two children, one of whom only had a few dollars in his hand. The woman said her brother would send her the rest of the money — this was never part of their original plan. The woman then asked Giron to remove the snake from its container. "I was like, 'OK, that's weird. Maybe you want to touch him, maybe you just want to make sure he's friendly,'" Giron told the news outlet.
Two men then approached Giron from behind with a gun and demanded the snake be handed over. Giron told them no, and one of the men "was very stunned." That's when both men — caught on surveillance camera – jumped back. Chompers got in a mood.
"I'm guessing he was scared of the snake. The snake kind of went by him and he jumped back," Giron said. Both men were able to flee the scene. She thanks Chompers for maybe saving her life that day.
Sean Flythe, 17, was arrested earlier this week and was charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. The other suspect is still at large as of Friday (November 11) afternoon, according to the Houston Police Department.
Giron said as a result of this incident, Chompers has not been the same. "Now I guess he's staying with me," she said.
You can watch surveillance footage of the incident below:
The Houston Police Department’s Robbery Division needs the public's assistance identifying the suspects responsible for an aggravated robbery. On Sunday, October 2, 2022 at around 5:00 pm, the complainants had arranged to meet with an unknown female after placing an ad selling a snake on an online selling app. The complainant stated that they agreed to meet at an apartment complex parking lot at the 9400 block of Clearwood, in Houston, Texas. Upon their arrival, they were talking to the unknown female (potential buyer), when they were approached by two males. One of the males pulled out a handgun and demanded the snake. The complainant stated that she then threw the snake back into her truck. Both of the suspects then fled the location on foot. Houston PD #1330420-22 Note: The complainant stated that that the suspects never interacted with the female that they were meeting with to sell the snake and believes that she may have set up the robbery. Suspect information: Black male, 18 to 20 years old, white shirt and black pants. Suspect #2: Black male, black shirt and black pants. Please contact Crime Stoppers of Houston DIRECTLY if you have any information related to this investigation. Information leading to the charging and/or arrest of any felony suspects may result in a cash payment up to $5,000. Tipsters MUST contact Crime Stoppers DIRECTLY to remain anonymous and to be considered for a cash payment by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitting an online tip at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app.
Posted by Houston Police Robbery on Wednesday, October 19, 2022