Young couple accused of luring victim through dating apps before he was shot four times

Teenagers Accused of Using Dating Apps for Violent Robberies

Two teenagers from Texas are facing serious accusations of using an online dating platform to entice young individuals into violent robberies. Reports indicate that these incidents included a victim being pistol-whipped and another case where a 15-year-old was shot four times, yet fortunately survived.

Alyssa Kanul, 17, was arrested on May 27 in Universal City, which is near San Antonio. She now faces two counts of aggravated robbery, as confirmed by local authorities and arrest records from Bexar County.

Her boyfriend, Joseph Anthony Aguilar, 18, was apprehended a day earlier on May 26 during a SWAT operation. Aguilar is now facing several felony charges.

Interestingly, a separate incident in Miami involved a woman who allegedly lured a man to a luxury condo through Instagram, later robbing him alongside two associates.

According to police, Kanul and Aguilar specifically targeted young men on dating apps, persuading them to meet in person before robbing and assaulting them. The Universal City officials noted that the pair had recently moved to the area.

One of the victims reported being robbed and pistol-whipped, while in another shocking incident, a 15-year-old boy was lured to a meeting site and shot multiple times. Thankfully, he is currently in recovery from his injuries.

The suspects were residing at the Villa Mesa Apartments in Universal City when these attacks occurred. Aguilar’s arrest was part of a multi-agency SWAT operation, and it seems that Kanul eluded capture for a bit until authorities identified and arrested her later.

Universal City Police Chief Johnny Siemens commended officers and partner agencies for their prompt actions. He expressed concern for community safety, stating, “There’s always concern in the community when something like this happens,” and praised the officers for their swift response in this case.