On Tuesday, September 11, a 31-year-old man was robbed as he walked from his car to a Burger King restaurant near the Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard intersection at approximately 5:30 a.m. The restaurant is located in San Francisco’s Japantown neighborhood. The victim’s wife waited in the car while he went toward the restaurant, at which point a man approached him carrying a handgun. The gunman demanded money from the alleged victim; he complied, then made an attempt to shove the gun away. At that point, the suspect shot the victim two times, once in the calf and once in the hip. The suspect then fled the scene, according to police. As of this writing, no arrests had been made in the robbery/shooting.
News reports claim that the victim’s injuries were not life threatening, and that he returned to his car. His wife then drove him to San Francisco General Hospital for medical treatment.
San Francisco criminal defense lawyers understand the harsh penalties individuals face when convicted of serious felony crimes including robbery, particularly when you possess and/or use a firearm in the commission of the crime. In California, there is a law known as “10-20-life ‘use a gun and you’re done'” although this penal code does not apply in every situation. Under this law, you may be sentenced to 10 years in prison for “using” a gun, 20 years for firing it – and these penalties are in addition to the sentence you are given for the original or underlying felony crime, such as robbery. Regardless of the sentence you are given, being imprisoned or having a criminal record can ruin your life, career, reputation and relationships.
Whether or not this law applies in your situation, you face serious consequences which may include prison time, stiff fines and a criminal record. If you have been arrested for any criminal offense, it is recommended that you contact a skilled and aggressive San Francisco robbery defense attorney at once. Your lawyer will work vigorously to have charges against you dismissed or reduced, protecting your legal rights and freedom.