Kendrec McDade case: Teen admits theft that led to CA police shooting

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - A 17-year-old boy on Tuesday admitted his role in juvenile court in a theft that led to the fatal shooting of an unarmed college student by Pasadena police in March...

TheGrio Staff

May 2, 2012

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — A 17-year-old boy on Tuesday admitted his role in juvenile court in a theft that led to the fatal shooting of an unarmed college student by Pasadena police in March.

The minor made the admission — the juvenile court equivalent of a guilty plea — to two felony counts of burglary, one count of grand theft and a misdemeanor count of failing to register as a gang member, Los Angeles County prosecutor Anna Phillips said. He wasn’t identified because of his age.

Juvenile Court Commissioner Robert Leventer sentenced the teen to six months at a community camp program.

Police said the teen, accompanied by 19-year-old Kendrec McDade, stole a laptop from a car near a Pasadena taco stand March 24.

Authorities said officers shot and killed McDade after receiving a 911 call from Oscar Carrillo, who claimed he was robbed at gunpoint by two men. Police said Carrillo later acknowledged lying about the gun to speed up officers’ response.

The call led officers to believe McDade, who is black, was armed when they spotted him in an alley, authorities said, and they opened fire when he made a motion at his waistband.

The teens matched descriptions provided by Carrillo, witnesses and surveillance footage, authorities said. The two officers, both of whom are white, have been placed on paid leave, pending an investigation.

Carrillo was arrested for investigation of involuntary manslaughter, but prosecutors haven’t filed charges, saying the case needed further work.

McDade’s family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit and a claim against the city of Pasadena and five officers.