SFPD: Teen was shot dead by fellow robber

(12-27) 17:31 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- A teenage boy who was shot dead in San Francisco this month was slain not by an enemy but by an accomplice in a street robbery, after a bullet fired at the victim ricocheted off his face, police said Friday.

Officials released the shocking details of the death of 16-year-old Clifton Chatman while announcing the arrest of one of the alleged thieves, who is also 16, on suspicion of murder and attempted robbery.

Due to his age, the suspect was not identified. Police did not say whether they believed he was the shooter.

The incident happened Dec. 14 near the Alemany public housing complex in Bernal Heights. Police said a group of suspects accosted a man at about 11 p.m., and that as they dug through the victim's possessions and took his phone, one of them pulled out a handgun.

The victim did not resist and complied with all demands, police said, but the gunman still opened fire. The bullet, though, glanced off the victim's face and struck Chatman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

The target of the robbery was hospitalized, but is expected to survive. Investigators are still searching for the other males involved in the crime.