Features

Teen delays plea in Oakland shooting

Daily Planet Wire Service
Saturday November 02, 2002

OAKLAND — A 17-year-old boy charged with shooting an Oakland police officer in the head last month delayed entering a plea Friday in Alameda County Superior Court. 

A complaint filed Oct. 16 charges Terrance Laverne Hunter of Oakland in adult court with attempted murder of a police officer, assault with a firearm upon an officer, and unlawful possession of a firearm. 

Hunter, who is being held without bail, appeared in court in Oakland Friday morning wearing eyeglasses, a navy blue sweatshirt and tan pants. 

His court-appointed attorney, Gary L. Sherrer of Oakland, requested that the entry of plea be delayed until Nov. 8. The attorney said he has received 10 audiotapes from the prosecution in connection with the case but is still waiting for investigators' logs to be provided to him. 

Judge Allan D. Hymer agreed to put the matter over for one week. 

Sherrer declined to comment on the case outside of court. 

The charges stem from Sept. 27, when Officer Ilario Juarez, 30, stopped in front of the Mosswood Motel at 683 W. MacArthur Blvd. at about 2:45 a.m. 

As Juarez, who was patrolling alone, approached a group of individuals lingering in the motel's driveway, one person immediately separated himself from the others and fired on the officer, police said. Three bullets grazed Juarez's head, according to court documents. 

Hunter was stopped by police on the day of the shooting and later arrested when a check revealed that he was wanted on a probation violation, police said. He was arrested in connection with the shooting on Oct. 14. 

Court documents state that Juarez picked Hunter out of a photo lineup as the alleged shooter.