Man charged with murder in botched theft of Playstation 4

A 21-year-old San Francisco man has been charged with murder after prosecutors say he botched an attempt to rob a man selling a Playstation 4 video game console.

Ronnie Collins fatally shot Ikenna Uwakah, 22, of Daly City four times in broad daylight on Dec. 1, according to a statement from the San Francisco district attorney’s office.

Uwakah and his girlfriend posted an advertisement listing the Playstation 4 for sale on Instagram and Craigslist and the couple were meeting with Collins to complete the transaction, district attorney spokesman Alex Bastian told The Times on Wednesday.

In addition to one count of murder, Collins faces two counts of attempted robbery with firearm enhancement allegations.

“It’s truly disturbing that this defendant took another man’s life over a Playstation 4 video game console,” San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón said in a statement. “If you are buying or selling anything online please use caution and take steps to protect yourself.”

After Collins apparently responded to the victims’ Instgram post, Uwakah’s girlfriend initially suggested that they meet at a drugstore, Bastian said. But Collins insisted on going to Youngblood Park in San Francisco’s Bayview District, a few blocks from the drugstore. Bastian said Collins also wanted the girlfriend to come alone.

When the buyer and sellers met at the park, Uwakah showed that the gaming console was in his car, prompting Collins to reach through the parked car’s partially open window with a gun in hand, Bastian said. Uwakah pushed the gun away and told Collins he could take the Playstation, but Collins opened fire, Bastian said.

The defendant fled and Uwakah drove less than a mile before he became incapacitated by his injuries, Bastian said. The girlfriend attempted to drive, but dispatchers advised her to pull over and wait for responding paramedics.

Uwakah was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour after being shot. His girlfriend was uninjured.

Bastian also said Collins never procured the Playstation 4. The defendant’s bail has been set at $5 million.

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Twitter: @MattStevensLAT

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