BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) - A Butte County judge today found there was sufficient evidence for Jaden Christopher Hollowell, 20, of Chico, to stand trial for an attempted robbery in which he shot and paralyzed the intended victim of a September 2023 robbery.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the robbery occurred in a vehicle in the 1200 block of Notre Dame Boulevard in Chico where the victim, a 25-year-old Yuba City marijuana dealer, was delivering marijuana at Hollowell’s request.

Ramsey said evidence presented at Hollowell’s preliminary hearing today revealed Hollowell and a 16-year-old juvenile cohort lured the victim dealer to a parking lot of an apartment complex, where they pulled handguns on the victim as he sat in his truck. The victim resisted the robbery attempt and was shot in the face by Hollowell, who claimed he thought the victim was pulling a gun on him. A butane lighter in the shape of a pistol was later found in the victim’s truck.

Chico Police officers responded to the parking lot where they found the victim in his vehicle, and he was rushed to Enloe Hospital and then life-flighted to UC Davis due to the severity of his injuries. Ramsey said the shot went through the victim’s nasal cavity and into his spine. The victim is now paralyzed from the chest down from his injuries.

Through extensive follow-up, including nearby surveillance videos, Chico police detectives were able to identify Hollowell and also tentatively his juvenile cohort. The pair had fled the area, and disposed of the firearms. The firearms have not been located.

Ramsey said once detectives had identified Hollowell, they obtained an arrest warrant for him, and he was charged with attempting to rob the victim and shooting him in the process. The investigation into the juvenile’s participation and identification is ongoing.

Ramsey said Hollowell had previously been convicted of possession of a concealed firearm and domestic violence in 2021, and was on probation supervision at the time of this robbery. Hollowell next appears in court on January 31, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. to enter a plea to his charges and set trial dates. Hollowell remains in Butte County Jail subject to a no-bail hold. He faces a prison term of 25-years-to-life.