Driver Makes First Court Appearance Following Deadly New Year's Day Police Chase
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The man facing murder charges for a deadly crash as he fled from San Francisco police after a drive-by shooting on New Year's Day made his first court appearance on Friday.
The judge postponed arraignment of 19-year-old David Morales so the Public Defender's Office could assign him an attorney.
Morales faces two counts of murder for the deaths of another motorist and a pedestrian killed when his car crashed on the corner of South Van Ness Avenue and 21st Street as he fled from police.
KCBS Anna Duckworth Reports:
SF Judge Postpones Arraignment For Suspect In Deadly New Year's Day Police Chase
Prosecutors have also filed three counts of attempted murder against Morales for allegedly firing at three teenagers at the Valencia Gardens housing project shortly before the crash.
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon said Morales is a known Norteno gang member, and the case should send a message to young people to consider the consequences of gang affiliation.
"There's nothing glamorous about this activity," Gascon said.
"This is a very good example of someone that probably wasn't even thinking," he said, "that he would be ending up killing two people and ending up the rest of his life in prison."
Morales remains in jail on a $10 million bail. His arraignment was rescheduled to Jan. 8.
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