Not-Guilty Plea Entered in Shooting

A Lakeside woman accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend in the back after he tried to retrieve a pet parrot pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of attempted murder.

Julie Gervais, 31, appeared in El Cajon Municipal Court to answer charges that she shot Bernard Greg Snyder, 31, at her Wintercrest Drive condominium Saturday.

Snyder’s parents, Roger and Evelyn, told reporters Wednesday that their son had lived with Julie Gervais briefly before they split up six months ago.

They said Gervais invited their son to her apartment Saturday to reclaim his pet macaw, a blue-gold bird named Capper. They said they have learned that Bernard did not force his way into the apartment, as initial news reports indicated.

“It’s just senseless,” Evelyn Snyder said. “He’s lost the use of his legs. He may die. He’s very critical. . . . He had such a potential for life.”

Evelyn Snyder said her son, a recreational-vehicle maintenance worker, had his right lung removed and has seven fractured ribs and numerous bullet fragments and permanent paralysis in his legs.

She said medical personnel told her that Snyder’s attacker shot him in the back with a .357 magnum with an exploding shell.

Gervais remains in custody at the Las Colinas jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing to determine if she should stand trial in Superior Court was scheduled for Nov. 25.

Attorneys on both sides will also meet Nov. 19 to discuss a possible plea bargain in the case.