PHOENIX — A 21-year-old Phoenix man made his first court appearance Monday in San Diego, where he faces a murder charge in the fatal shooting of his pregnant girlfriend outside a short-term rental property over the weekend.
Read more Missing 15-year-old girl found dead in southern Arizona
Prosecutors allege that Trevon Williams traveled from Arizona to San Diego and waited outside the rental home where 17-year-old Jariah Edwards, also of Phoenix, was staying with family members. According to court proceedings, Williams allegedly remained outside the property until Edwards exited the residence, then shot her.
Edwards was 32 weeks pregnant at the time of the shooting, prosecutors said.
Medical personnel performed an emergency Caesarean section following the incident, and the baby survived. However, authorities said the infant remains in critical condition and has shown limited brain activity.
During Monday’s hearing, a judge ordered that Williams’ face be blurred in court video coverage. Williams is being held without bail. He also faces an attempted murder charge and possession of a “machine gun,” which in this case was a handgun with an extended magazine, something that is legal in Arizona, but not in California, according to prosecutors.
Family members described Edwards as kind, ambitious and talented. San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Alex Lorens told reporters after the hearing that there was a history of domestic violence between the couple and alleged that Williams had planned the attack.
“He planned and plotted this murder, driving from Arizona all the way down to San Diego, where he planted himself outside the Airbnb she was staying at, and waited for her to come out,” Lorens said.
Prosecutors said an additional murder charge could be filed if the infant dies from injuries related to the shooting.
Williams could face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Prosecutors also indicated that the death penalty remains a possibility, although the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office has not yet decided whether to seek capital punishment.
California has not executed an inmate since 2006.
Williams is scheduled to return to court on June 12 in San Diego. Prosecutors told the court they intend to seek his continued detention without bail throughout the case.
Watch the 12News Streaming App for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere, thanks to the 12News streaming app!
The free 12News streaming app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News streaming showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.”
Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12News streaming app to add to your account, or have the 12News streaming app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Read more House approves war powers resolution to halt military action against Iran