Second Arrest Made in East Haven Facebook Marketplace Robbery at McDonald's

Justin Chapman, 18, of Hamden charged with robbery after January watch sale turned violent

PublishedMarch 12, 2026
Isiah Falconer and Justin Chapman
Isiah Falconer and Justin Chapman

East Haven Police have arrested a second suspect in connection with an armed robbery at a McDonald's on Main Street that began as a Facebook Marketplace watch transaction and ended with shots fired in the parking lot, authorities said.

Justin M. Chapman, 18, of Hamden, was taken into custody on March 3, 2026, nearly two months after the January 8 incident. He was held on a $150,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court on March 11, 2026. Chapman is the second Hamden teenager charged in connection with the robbery.

How the Robbery Unfolded in East Haven

The incident began in the rear parking lot of the McDonald's at 687 Main Street, where a juvenile and a friend had arranged to meet a prospective buyer through Facebook Marketplace to sell a watch.

Isiah Falconer, 18, of Hamden met the sellers at the location and attempted to complete the purchase through a payment app, but the payment did not go through. Falconer then drew a firearm. A struggle ensued between Falconer and the victims as they attempted to take control of the weapon. During the struggle, several shots were fired. No injuries were reported.

The victim was able to remove an extended magazine from the firearm during the altercation. The magazine was left at the scene and recovered by police.

First Arrest Came Quickly

Falconer, 18, of Hamden, was arrested shortly after the January 8 incident. He was initially charged with carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal possession of a large capacity magazine, and was held on a $250,000 bond. Additional charges including first-degree robbery and reckless endangerment were also filed against Falconer.

Chapman's Charges

Chapman was charged with criminal liability for robbery in the first degree, larceny in the second degree, risk of injury to a child, assault in the third degree, and breach of peace in the second degree.

The risk of injury to a child charge relates to the fact that one of the robbery victims was a minor.

No statements from Chapman or his legal representatives have been made public. The East Haven Police Investigative Services Division led the inquiry that produced the second arrest.

Facebook Marketplace Safety

The East Haven robbery is part of a national pattern of crimes that originate as online marketplace transactions. Police departments across Connecticut and the country have urged residents to conduct in-person transactions at police stations or other well-lit, publicly visible locations to reduce the risk of robbery.

East Haven Police have not issued specific guidance or policy changes in response to the January 8 incident, and no changes to safe-transaction zones at the Police Department have been publicly announced.

Facebook Marketplace, operated by Meta, includes safety guidelines recommending that users meet in public, bring a friend, and avoid transactions involving large amounts of cash. The platform does not have a mechanism to verify the identity of buyers or sellers before transactions occur.

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