Atlanta: Woman Shot in the Face During Facebook Marketplace Robbery

An online transaction took a terrifying and violent turn in metro Atlanta on Wednesday night. Zariyona Rowe is currently recovering from severe injuries after she was shot in the face during an attempted robbery stemming from a Facebook Marketplace meetup.

A Sale Turns Deadly

Rowe had arranged to meet a potential buyer to sell a watch. However, shortly after she arrived at the designated meeting spot in her vehicle, the situation escalated rapidly. According to Rowe, the "buyer" suddenly produced a firearm, pointed it at her head, and demanded the watch while threatening her life.

Instinctively, Rowe, who had kept her car in drive, hit the gas to escape. As she sped away, the suspect opened fire. A bullet struck Rowe in the side of her face, traveling through her nasal cavity and exiting just below her jaw.

Desperate Search for Help

Despite her severe injuries and heavy bleeding, Rowe managed to drive herself to a nearby gas station. She recounted frantically yelling out her window for help before finally finding a bystander willing to assist her until emergency services arrived.

Rowe underwent surgery on Thursday and remains hospitalized, though she says she is in good spirits. She hopes her traumatic experience will serve as a stark warning to others who use online marketplaces to meet strangers. "Life or death situation, make sure you're ready to react," she advised.

In the wake of the shooting, Rowe's friends and family have organized a fundraiser to help cover her mounting medical expenses as she continues her recovery.