16-year-old suspect charged as adult for murder of Temecula teen

TEMECULA, Calif. (KABC) -- The suspect in the shooting death of 15-year-old Gage Seal, a Temecula Valley High School student, has been charged as an adult.

Ryan Jawad, 16, is facing one count of murder with personal use of a firearm allegation and one count of possession of stolen property.

The Riverside District Attorney's Office said it decided to charge the teen as an adult based on evidence in the case.

Authorities responded to a shooting at the Travel Inn on the 31000 block of Auto Center Drive at 12:45 a.m. Sunday and found Seal with a fatal gunshot wound.

Jawad made his first court appearance on Tuesday afternoon, but his arraignment was continued to June 16.

It was very emotional day, with families of both the victim and the suspect present in the courtroom. At one point, the victim's mother stood up and stared at Jawad while sobbing.

Jawad's father said his son and Seal were very good friends and would often stay at each other's homes.

The motive for the shooting has not been determined. Classmates said there was a party at the motel that night.

Seal was a freshman at Temecula Valley High School and loved skateboarding and playing baseball.

Jawad is being held on $2 million bail. If convicted, he faces 40 years to life in prison.