Prosecution Says SF Suspect Used Real Name, Photo To Set Up Deadly Playstation Deal
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - A man accused of a fatal shooting in San Francisco over a PlayStation 4 game console made his initial appearance in court Wednesday to face charges of murder and attempted robbery.
Ronnie Collins, 21, is accused of shooting 22-year-old Ikenna Uwakah about 3:30 p.m. Sunday near Mendell Street and Galvez Avenue in the city's Bayview District.
Collins declined to enter a plea to the charges Wednesday and will return to court on Monday.
During Collins' arraignment in San Francisco Superior Court Wednesday afternoon, Assistant District Attorney Scot Clark laid out the case against the defendant, whom he referred to as a "Christmastime predator."
Clark said Uwakah's girlfriend had arranged via the social media website Instagram to sell the PS4 to Collins, who asked to meet up in the Bayview because he said he had no means of transportation.
The girlfriend agreed and went with Uwakah to the agreed meeting location. Collins tried to get the girlfriend to meet him alone but she refused, so Collins eventually approached the victims' car, Clark said.
But instead of pulling out cash for the gaming console, according to the prosecutor, Collins allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at Uwakah.
According to Clark, when Uwakah said Collins could have the PS4, Collins said "Nah," then fired four shots into the car.
Uwakah later died at San Francisco General Hospital. His girlfriend was uninjured, police said.
Investigators tracked down Collins, who used his real name and picture on Instagram, and found a cellphone at his home that had evidence of his communication with the girlfriend, Clark said.
The prosecutor said Collins does not have a lengthy criminal record but is "a danger to the public" and asked for bail to be set at $5 million.
Deputy Public Defender Mark Jacobs said he "is going to vigorously oppose these charges," and said Clark's reference to the defendant as a "Christmastime predator" was "character assassination."
"We don't need people to be demonized before they have a chance to sit in front of a jury," Jacobs said outside of court.
Judge Rochelle East agreed to set the bail at $5 million bail for Collins.
Members of Uwakah's family and supporters of Collins both attended this afternoon's hearing but declined to speak to reporters outside of court.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
