A 17-year-old from Uncasville accused in the gang-related drive-by shooting of a woman on Central Avenue in Norwich on July 21 made his first appearance Wednesday in the New London court where major crimes are tried.

Rah-Mek Roberts of 93 Depot Road, whose mother stood with him during his court appearance due to his age, will be tried as an adult on charges of first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal discharge of a firearm.

He has been held in lieu of a $35,000 bond since Norwich police arrested him on Aug. 24.

Chief public defender Bruce A. Sturman entered a plea of not guilty in the case and said Roberts would be represented by attorney Peter E. Scillieri. The case was continued to Sept. 8.

At least two other juveniles were involved in the shooting but are not identified by name in an arrest warrant affidavit prepared by Norwich police Detective Kevin J. Wilbur.

According to the affidavit and police reports, a 20-year-old woman was shot in the shoulder while walking north on Central Avenue about 11:40 p.m.

The woman was treated at The William W. Backus Hospital for what was characterized as an injury that was not life-threatening.

She told police that Roberts and the others have a "beef" with her boyfriend and his gang.

She said she was standing with her boyfriend on the sidewalk at the intersection of Tenth Street when a dark-colored sedan pulled up.

She said she thought the occupants were going to jump out and fight with her boyfriend, but then heard a pop and felt her arm go numb before the car raced away with its tires squealing.

During the investigation, New London school resource officer Max Bertsch identified Roberts and the juvenile suspects as active members out of the city's "170" gang who were expelled from city schools last year for fighting and other gang-related crimes.

Bertsch said there is a long-standing problem between the "170" gang and the "2" gang out of Norwich.

Norwich police seized a Cadillac Deville that the juveniles allegedly used in the crime and found two live bullets, one from a .22 caliber pistol and the other from a .45 caliber, according to the affidavit.

One of the juveniles involved in the crime, identified only as "Juvenile Suspect #2" in an affidavit, told Wilber that Roberts sent him a message that night saying they were going to Norwich to "to get that gun back."

He said he didn't want to go, but Roberts said they would just be driving around smoking marijuana.

He said Robert's cousin, who has not been charged in the crime, picked him up and they picked up a third teen, identified only as "Juvenile Suspect #3."

He said that after making a stop to check a Central Avenue address for the gun, they pulled onto a side street when Roberts saw a man walking down Central Avenue and stated, "I'm gonna pop this (racial slur)."

Despite his objections, the juvenile told police Roberts pointed a black handgun out the front passenger window and pulled the trigger.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN