Police: Drug deal set up online led to Providence carjacking

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A marijuana deal arranged on Instagram led to a man being carjacked on Atwells Avenue Monday, Providence police said.

Officers were called to the area of 1049 Atwells Ave. at 3:15 p.m. Monday to take the report.

A man told police he came to the area to meet an Instagram user he had agreed to sell a quarter pound of marijuana.

According to the police report, 19-year-old Niyeem Lee showed up to the meeting, came up to the victim’s vehicle, and pointed a gun at him, demanding “everything.”

It was at that point, the victim told police, that another vehicle showed up and blocked him in.

Two men got out of that car and assaulted him, the victim told police.

According to a police report obtained by ABC6 News, the witness reported that 20-year-old Kendall Towns then hit him in the head with a gun.

Providence police provided mugshots of Niyeem Lee (left) and Kendall Towns (right) after their arrests.

The victim was treated on scene for a cut to his head.

Police said officers found his car on East Street and it was processed for evidence.

Lee and Towns were found by officers a short time later, and arrested after a police lineup was conducted at headquarters, police said.