Two More Arrested in Okeeheelee Park Robbery
Police have now taken six suspects into custody regarding an armed robbery of a teenage barber at a city park.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Property Crime
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Authorities in West Palm Beach arrested two additional suspects in connection with a violent armed robbery at Okeeheelee Park. The arrests bring the total number of individuals charged in the case to six.
Why it matters
The case highlights the dangers of using social media platforms to lure unsuspecting individuals into orchestrated traps. Investigators believe the attack was motivated by revenge for a separate, earlier robbery involving a firearm.
Edwin Funes Cartagena and Jan Marcos Diaz Cruz, both 18, each face two counts of robbery with a firearm following their recent booking at the Palm Beach County Jail. Six suspects have now been identified and arrested in the ongoing investigation.
The players
Edwin Funes Cartagena
The 18-year-old suspect faces two counts of robbery with a firearm in connection with the Okeeheelee Park attack.
Jan Marcos Diaz Cruz
The 18-year-old suspect, who allegedly struck the victim with a firearm, faces two counts of robbery with a firearm.
The details
The suspects allegedly used Instagram to lure a teenage aspiring barber to Okeeheelee Park under the pretense of a haircut appointment. Once there, the victim was tackled, beaten, and held at gunpoint while the group stole $1,200 worth of equipment.
Timeline
Two additional suspects were arrested in September 2026.
Legal Context
This robbery investigation follows the procedural patterns of recent organized crime cases in West Palm Beach where social media is used as a tool for criminal solicitation. Local authorities continue to track these trends as part of an effort to monitor rising concerns regarding app-based exploitation.
Residents are advised to exercise extreme caution when arranging meetups with strangers via social media apps in public parks. Authorities have heightened their awareness of criminal activity near the Okeeheelee Park area following this violent incident.
The takeaway
Users should verify the legitimacy of any individual encountered online before agreeing to meet in secluded or public locations. Safety experts recommend conducting such transactions in well-lit, highly populated commercial areas whenever possible.
Further reading
Read more about local security and incident updates on the Property Crime section.
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Do you trust social media companies to do enough to prevent their platforms from enabling crime?
