A SAN FRANCISCO teenager is dead after a bullet fired by his accomplice in a street robbery ricocheted off the victim's face and killed him.

Local police allege 16-year-old Clifton Chatman was among a group of young muggers who surrounded the unnamed victim at 11pm on December 14 and demanded he hand over his cellphone.

One of the robbers pulled out a handgun while the others searched the victim's belongings for valuables, reports Gawker.

The victim surrendered all his possessions, but the gunman still opened fire. The bullet ricocheted off the victim's face and hit Mr Chatman, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The robbery victim was hospitalised but is expected to survive, police said.

The 16-year-old alleged shooter has been arrested on charges of suspicion of murder and attempted robbery.

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