An 18-year-old man accused of weapons charges in connection with a shooting that injured five people on San Francisco’s Market Street in June pleaded guilty to one of the charges today, prosecutors said.
Terrell Blay, a San Francisco resident, was arrested following the June 25 shooting near Market and Seventh streets and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a concealed and loaded weapon, participation in a criminal street gang and resisting arrest.
The shooting made headlines because it occurred while a San Francisco Pride celebration was taking place nearby in Civic Center Plaza, although police said the shooting was unrelated to the celebrations.
Blay was one of two people arrested following the shooting, but prosecutors said the other suspect arrested, a 16-year-old boy, was the shooter.
The boy was charged with five counts of attempted murder and various weapons charges and is awaiting trial in juvenile court, prosecutors said.
The shooting was preceded by an encounter between two rival gangs that led to a member of the rival gang firing at Blay and his group, prosecutors said.
One member from the group was hit, as well as four bystanders – a 17-year-old boy from El Cerrito, a 22-year-old man from Santa Cruz, a 45-year-old man visiting from England, and a 74-year-old San Francisco resident, police said.
All five victims were taken to San Francisco General Hospital to be treated for their injuries, which were not life-threatening.
Blay fled the area following the shooting and police officers saw a loaded handgun fall from his pant leg. After a brief pursuit, he was arrested, prosecutors said.
After pleading not guilty on June 29 to the charges, Blay pleaded guilty today to the unlawful possession of a firearm charge in exchange for a sentence of probation, district attorney’s office spokesman Omid Talai said.
Blay will be sentenced in a hearing scheduled for Nov. 7 at the San Francisco Hall of Justice, Talai said.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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