San Jose, CA – A teenager accused of joining a 26-year-old in a series of crimes that included killing a man during a carjacking was arraigned as an adult Wednesday.
Fifteen-year-old Adonis Muldrow didn’t say anything during his brief court appearance. He did not even enter a plea. He had been charged with murder, attempted murder of a police offficer, four counts of second-degree robbery, assault with a firearm on an officer, and receiving a stolen vehicle.
Officials said Muldrow will remain in a juvenile facility for the moment.
Muldrow and Jonathan Wilbanks allegedly carried out a number of robberies on November 16. They allegedly shot 22-year-old Rory Park-Pettiford of Campbell, California while attempting to steal his car at a 7-11 in San Jose.
They also allegely wounded a San Jose police officer.
Wilbanks is being held in County Jail.
Both are scheduled to appear in court December 5.
Police said Wilbanks and Muldrow knew each other, but they did not know the nature of their relationship. Deputy district attorney James Leonard said the nature of the crimes warranted Muldrow being tried as an adult.
“We look at the severity of the crime as well as the background of the juvenile,” Leonard said.
He added, “The community should know we take this incredibly seriously. SJPD was working around the clock. When we were having Thanksgiving dinner, they were out there.”
The charges against Wilbanks make him eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors did not decide if they were going to seek it. Muldrow would be spared the death penalty because a2005 US Supreme Court decision prohibits it for crimes committed as a minor.
