Police: woman used dating app to lure, rob teen

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Police want to track down a trio of thieves who they said used a dating application to set up a teenage victim and then robbed and shot him.

Pamela Copeland identified the victim as her son, Dontay Copeland, 19, of Marietta.

"These people got $12 and two cell phones," said Copeland, who did not understand why they then opened fire on her child.

According to DeKalb County Police, the teenager met a young lady he connected with through a dating app on Sunday in Cobb County. The young woman, known only as Kayla or McKayla, convinced Copeland to go with her to Lithonia.

Investigators said she lured Copeland into the woods behind the Willow Wick condominiums off Fairington Road at around 2:15 p.m. Two armed men then held the teenager at gunpoint and robbed him of his cell phones and wallet.

"After the robbery, the males handed the gun over to the female, who then, in turn, shot the victim in the leg," explained DeKalb Police Lt. Lonzy Robertson. "Luckily the victim was able to stumble away and get to a point where he could get in touch with police."

Copeland said her son had to undergo several hours of surgery and blood transfusions at Grady Memorial Hospital.

DeKalb County Police said they do not have much information about the suspects to go on, but they would like to track them down as soon as possible. In the meantime, they urge anyone who is online dating to use caution and only meet up with people in public places.

"If this is something that's a serial crime that they may be doing around the metro area, then somebody could seriously get injured or killed," explained Lt. Robertson.

Anyone with information about this crime should contact the DeKalb County Police Department.