Man Wanted In Social Media Sale Robbery Taken Into Custody

SELMA — A man wanted since July for an armed robbery that began as a Facebook Marketplace sale has been arrested.

Tony Moore, 23, of Selma was taken into custody last week by Mount Olive Police and served with warrants obtained by the Selma Police Department.

Moore is charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping.

The charges stem from a July 14 incident in the parking lot of the BP convenience store on U.S. 70 in Selma.

Police said the victim had listed a watch for sale on Facebook Marketplace and agreed to meet Moore to complete the transaction.

Instead, authorities allege the victim was robbed.

Following the robbery, the suspect fled on foot behind the convenience store toward a nearby apartment complex and then into a wooded area along the railroad tracks.

Selma Police established a perimeter and used a drone during the search. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office also assisted, but the suspect was not located that day.

Police later identified Moore as the suspect and obtained warrants for his arrest.

Prior Arrest In Clayton-Area Assault
The robbery occurred just 10 days after Moore had been arrested in an unrelated assault outside a Taco Bell in the Flowers community near Clayton.

In that case, Johnston County sheriff’s deputies responded to the restaurant on South Merchant Avenue around 10:03 p.m. July 4.

Authorities said two employees had been involved in an argument before a manager directed them to leave the restaurant.

Investigators alleged Moore, who was the boyfriend of one of the employees, became involved and repeatedly struck the other worker.

The 30-year-old victim suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital.
Moore was charged in that case with felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury.

After his arrest in Wayne County, Moore was served with a failure to appear in court warrant on the Taco Bell assault charge.

Moore was held without bond following his first court appearance.