"I said, 'Let's just go,"' Kaufusi said. "We started walking toward the car saying, 'I got shotgun.' We all started running toward the car to try and get the front passenger seat."

Just as they got to the car, a patrol car approached them from behind, and officers ordered all of the boys onto the ground.

"The police said, 'I saw you trying to rob the Wendy's,"' Kaufusi said. "And I tried to explain."

He said police searched the car, which doesn't belong to him, and found beer and a loaded 9 mm handgun. When officers demanded to know who the items belonged to, Kaufusi said they were his.

"I didn't want anyone to get mad over it," he said, admitting he now regrets that action. "I knew the beer was there, but I didn't know the gun was there. I made up some story about how I bought it, but I don't have money for a gun."

Martinez said Kaufusi had $5 and some change when he was booked into jail. Kaufusi was released a few hours later and met with pre-trial services Monday afternoon.

While he waits for his first court appearance, Kaufusi said he plans to keep studying and, while he's disappointed he won't be playing for the U., he plans to look for another place to play football.

"I'm still blown away," he said of Whittingham's statement. "I'm just going to keep studying and pushing until I get it done. At least then I can say I tried my hardest."

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Contributing: Dirk Facer

E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com