Galen Allen

A Ringgold, Ga., teen who was shot and killed after he attempted to rob a man in a Bi-Lo parking lot last week was free on bond while awaiting trial in another robbery, according to Chattanooga police.

Calvin Ward, 17, was found dead Wednesday in a white Kia parked in the grocery store lot at 4510 Highway 58. A handgun was found in the car with him. He had suffered a couple of gunshot wounds to his back.

Jaden Archer was injured and still on scene when police arrived. He told police he met Ward at the parking lot to purchase electronic tablets.

Instead, Ward tried to rob him at gunpoint, he told police. Archer was able to pull out his Glock .40-caliber gun and shoot Ward.

Ward's partner, 26-year-old Galen Allen, attempted to pull Archer from the vehicle. Archer also shot Allen. Allen managed to make it to a local hospital, where he was treated. He since has been booked into the Hamilton County Jail and is being held on a $470,000 bond.

Allen faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence. Archer, who is a gun permit holder, faces no charges because the shootings were in self defense.

Friends mourned Ward on Twitter over the weekend. He was a student at Ridgeland High School.

"Imma miss him so much," writes @shermanyb_ on Twitter.

Ward was charged in another robbery case in October 2012. He was expected to go to trial in March on charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and theft of property, court records show.

Ward and another homicide victim from this year, 16-year-old Lamunta Williams, allegedly committed a home invasion-style robbery at a home on East 18th Street wearing bandannas. They repeatedly beat the victims before stealing two guns, a TV, an Xbox and $150 in cash, according to police.

Williams was picked out of the lineup by one of the victims. Five months after the October robbery, he was shot and killed in an abandoned house a couple of blocks from the Howard School during the school day where he was supposed to be in class.

When police searched Ward's phone, they found pictures of him posing with one of the stolen guns and another picture documenting the serial number. Both pictures were taken the day of the robbery.

Ward's death marks the 18th homicide of the year. In all of 2012, there were 24.

Allen's next court date is set for Dec. 12 before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom.

Contact staff writer Beth Burger at bburger@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6406. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/abburger.