LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Employees of Kearney Moto Sports said a man called the dealership Wednesday to ask about a car. And then Thursday morning, they said he showed up at the Fern Creek business, pointed a gun at a sales representative and stole the car.
Corey Buford, 20, was arrested by Louisville Metro Police on Thursday evening, according to court documents. He is charged with Attempted Murder, first-degree Robbery and Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon.
Anthony Prewitt, an employee at Kearney Motor Sports, said Buford claimed he was interested in purchasing the car but didn't have a way to get to the lot.
"Of course, they didn't have a vehicle to get here, so they requested a ride," Prewitt said. "As courteous as we are, we volunteered to pick the customer up."
When an employee showed up to get Buford, he wasn't there. The employee did not arrive to the location in the BMW.
"He called for them to come out, and no one would show up," Prewitt said. "I truly believe that's because they were planning on carjacking him in their own territory."
Then Thursday morning, Prewitt said Buford arrived at the dealership. Employees showed him the car he asked about Wednesday.
Kearney Motor Sports said it does not allow potential buyers to test drive a car until a valid drivers license is presented and a credit check completed. Prewitt said Buford was avoiding presenting a license and completing the credit check.
Prewitt said Buford later asked the sales representative to unlock the car door because he forgot his lighter. When she did, police say Buford pulled a gun on the sales representative and demanded the keys. Video appears to show the suspect point the gun at the woman, take the keys and then cock the gun after she runs away, before he gets in the car.
Prewitt said in the video he can hear the suspect pull the trigger.
"I heard her come in and say, 'He put a gun to my side, told me he'd shoot me and he just stole the BMW,'" Prewitt said. "At that point, knowing he had a gun, we just let him go and tried to get as much information as we can."
Police arrested Buford Thursday shortly before 7 p.m. after they say he was spotted coming out of a residence in the 700 block of South Jackson Street near Smoketown. When they took him into custody, they allegedly found a handgun and clothes similar to those used in the robbery.
According to court documents, Buford admitted to the robbery, and officers found the stolen vehicle in the 3200 block of Springfield Drive, not far from Buford's home.
Buford is currently being held in Louisville Metro Corrections.
"We shouldn't have to worry about getting shot trying to provide vehicles to people," Prewitt said.
This is one of hundreds of car thefts in Louisville so far this year. LMPD's crime-mapping tool shows more than 1,000 car thefts in the last 90 days.
Prewitt said it's a problem he is aware of, and it now hits closer to home.
"It's hard to watch when it happens on our own soil," he said. "I've seen it happen other places."
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