Santa Clara DA Seeks Adult Trial for 17-Year-Old in Valley Fair Mall Shooting, Citing Potential 15-Year Minimum Sentence

A 17-year-old juvenile has been charged with attempted murder and other serious offenses following a Black Friday shooting at Westfield Valley Fair Mall in San Jose, which injured three people. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is actively seeking to transfer the case to adult court, emphasizing the severity of the incident. The shooting, which police say was gang-related, involved the suspect opening fire on a perceived rival, also striking two innocent female bystanders.

The juvenile faces charges including attempted murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang, personal use of a firearm, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury. District Attorney Rosen stated that if the case remains in juvenile court, the suspect would face a maximum of three to five years in a secure facility. However, if tried as an adult, a conviction could lead to a sentence of at least 15 years before parole eligibility. Rosen asserted, > "Three to five years in a juvenile facility does not reflect the seriousness, the violence, and the dangerousness of this shooter's conduct. We are inches from murder and a few feet away from a mass murder."

The incident occurred on Black Friday when the suspect, allegedly wearing gang-affiliated clothing, spotted a perceived rival gang member and fired six shots. The intended target was hit in the chest, and two young women, including a 16-year-old, who were shopping at the mall, were also struck. All three victims survived their injuries and have since been released from the hospital, according to authorities.

Authorities confirmed the 17-year-old suspect was on probation at the time of the shooting, having been previously arrested in February for carrying a loaded and concealed firearm. Following the shooting, a 21-year-old woman, Allana Nevaeh Murillo, along with two other adults, Christian Joel Duran and Evan John Moniz, were arrested and charged as accessories for allegedly assisting the suspect in escaping and hiding. Murillo was reportedly seen pushing a baby in a stroller near the suspect during the incident.

The high-profile shooting has intensified the debate over California's juvenile justice laws. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Police Chief Paul Joseph have called for stricter penalties for juvenile offenders involved in gun violence, citing this as the second gang-related incident at a San Jose mall this year involving a minor. Conversely, public defenders and juvenile justice experts argue against a return to "tough on crime" policies, suggesting such approaches have historically destabilized vulnerable communities without effectively reducing crime.