A shooting that occurred during an online dating meetup has resulted in the Killeen Police Department Criminal Investigation Division issuing several safety tips for online daters. The shooting occurred on July 18 when a man arrived at a woman’s house for a pre-arranged date made on an online dating service. The two got into an altercation resulting in another male, from the woman’s residence, intervening and being shot. The incident happened in Killeen Texas and, as of this writing, the shooter was still at large.

SEE ALSO: Online Dating Safety Tips

“The officers were told that a female resident and the male suspect made an arrangement to meet through an online dating site,” said police spokeswoman Ofelia Miramontez. “During the encounter, there was an altercation between the female and male suspect, when a second male that was inside the residence intervened and was shot by the male suspect.”

The man shot is recovering in the hospital.

The Criminal Investigation Division has issued the following tips that relate to meeting someone for an online dating or meeting someone for a sales exchange:

> Trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it normally is.
> In the case of sales, don’t go alone.
> Insist on meeting at a public place.
> Do not meet in a secluded area.
> Do not invite strangers into your home, and do not go to theirs.
> Be cautious when buying/selling high value items.
> Perform the transaction during daylight hours.
> Tell a friend or family member about your intentions and where you will be.
> Take your mobile phone with you.

Online Dating Magazine has tackled the issue of online dating safety in many articles and adds the following online dating safety tips:

> Don’t meet too soon after contact. Take time to get to know the person online first.
> Never tell the person your home address before establishing an in-person relationship.
> Don’t drink on the first date (unless it is water, soda, or juice).
> Never publish your online dating photos anywhere else online. Why? Because a reverse image search could reveal personal information about you.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Never publish your profile photos elsewhere as a reverse image search could reveal info on you” quote=”Never publish your profile photos elsewhere as a reverse image search could reveal info on you” theme=”style4″]

In general, online dating is a great and safe way to meet a potential life partner. But always exercise good judgement and safe techniques when going to that first meeting. Also, be weary that if your online date looks nothing like their photo, there are likely other things they have lied about.

Save