Clifton Chatman, 16, Killed When Bullet Ricochets Off Robbery Victim's Face

A 16-year-old robbery suspect was killed after a bullet shot by an alleged accomplice ricocheted off the crime victim's face and hit the teen.

Investigators in San Francisco said Clifton Chatman died on Dec. 14 when he and a group of muggers surrounded an unnamed male victim and demanded his cell phone.

One of the alleged robbers pointed a handgun at the victim while the others looked through his belongings.

Then, the teen holding the gun shot the victim, but the bullet fired at the man bounced off his face and reportedly struck Chatman, killing him on the spot, according to Gawker.

The robbery victim was wounded but survived. The other robbers fled the crime scene before police arrived, SF Weekly reported.

On Thursday, police arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of murder and attempted robbery in the fatal shooting, but his name is not being released because of his age, NBC Bay Area reported.

Anyone with further information should contact the Police Department's Homicide Detail at (415) 553-1145. They can also call the Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the bullet killed Clifton Chatman by ricocheting off his face without mentioning that it hit the crime victim's face first.