Officers identified in Pasadena taco truck homicide
PASADENA, CA — The names of the Pasadena police officers involved in a March 24 shooting that left a 19-year-old man dead have been released and the community gathered Saturday to discuss the implications of the tragic event.
The officers — identified as Jeffery Newlen and Mathew Griffin — are now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.
Concerned residents held a community meeting Saturday to discuss the March 24 police shooting that left 19-year-old Kendrec Lavelle McDade.
Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez led the meeting at New Revelation Missionary Baptist Church at 855 N. Orange Grove Blvd.
Pasadena police have arrested a man who called 911 dispatchers on Saturday night and claimed two robbers “put a gun” in his face and stole his laptop computer.
Oscar Carrillo, of Pasadena, made the 911 call March 24 claiming two robbers used guns to rob him of his laptop. That call, according to police, may have led to McDade’s death at the hands of Newlen and Griffin.
Because of the call, Carillo was arrested and charged this week with involuntary manslaughter.
The shooting happened about 11 p.m. near the intersection of Orange Grove Avenue and Sunset Boulevard.
Officials said McDade and a 17-year-old accomplice first approached Carrillo at a taco truck and demanded he buy them food.
When Carrillo refused, the duo allegedly took a backpack and laptop from Carrillo’s car. Footage of the alleged theft was captured by surveillance cameras, officials said.
Police have released the tape of Carrillo’s 911 call.
They said Carrillo repeatedly told the 911 operator that the two men who robbed him had guns.
“Did you remember anything about the gun?” the dispatcher asks. Carrillo responds: “Both have a gun ma’am.”
The 911 operator clarified the point with Carrillo, asking, “So they both had a gun?” He replied, “Yes, I know they both have a gun.”
Sanchez said that when the officers caught up with McDade, they were under the impression that he was armed.
That’s why, Sanchez said, when McDade reached for his waistband, they opened fire, believing he reached for a gun.
Paramedics rushed McDade to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Neither Newlin nor Griffin were injured.
“This was a shock and a devastation to my family,” Kendrec’s mother, Anya McDade, said. “Seven days after I had just delivered my second son, we lost our first one.”
Police officials said that, during their investigation, Carrillo admitted to fabricating the part of the story about the guns to get a faster police response.
“Fabricating information to hasten a response is irresponsible,” Sanchez said.
The 17-year-old alleged accomplice was charged with two felony counts of commercial burglary and one felony count of grand theft.
On Wednesday, Sanchez asked the L.A. County Office of Independent Review to look into the case.
The announcement came as McDade’s mother hired an attorney, and the American Civil Liberties Union called for an independent investigation.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will also investigate the slaying. The Pasadena Police Department is also conducting its own probe into the incident.
A fund for McDade has been established at Chase Bank. Interested donors should ask to give to the Kendrec McDade fund, account No. 452408953.
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Source: KTLA
Image: KTLA
1 April 2012
10:13a.m. P.D.T.