“They Got Away With Murder”: Mother of Kendrec McDade Calls For Prosecution Against Cops Who Shot Him Dead

The Los County Office of Independent Review criticized the Officers Jeffrey Newlen and Mathew Griffin for "repeated tactical errors" made just before the 19-year-old was shot

The mother of Kendrec McDade called for the police officers who "got away with murder" after shooting him dead to be prosecuted after portions of an independent report criticizing their conduct were revealed.

The report, which examined what led up to the unarmed teenager being  gunned down in March 2012, had been held up in the courts for months. Parts of it were finally revealed and read by members of the public to the Pasadena City Council Monday night.

Oscar Carillo called police after his backpack was snatched from him near a taco truck on the street. He wanted police to respond quickly, so he called 911 and lied that the thief had pulled a gun on him. In 2013 he admitted reporting false information to police, taking a plea deal which sentenced him to three months in jail.

The Los County Office of Independent Review criticized the Pasadena Police Department Officers Jeffrey Newlen and Mathew Griffin for "repeated tactical errors" made just before the 19-year-old was shot. A Los Angeles County district attorney's office report had previously cleared the pair, who had followed McDade from the scene of the reported armed robbery in northwest Pasadena before the shooting occurred.

"I feel that Officer Newlen and Officer Griffin got away with murder." McDade's mother Anya Slaughter said, "They should be prosecuted or their badges should be taken away from them. This should not happen to another mother."

McDade's mother also addressed the council itself, before making her statement outside a police station.

She also joined a protest of Black Lives Matter movement calling for the release of Jasymine Richards.  

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The 28-year-old protester was jailed for allegedly making terrorist threats last week in Pasadena marking the third anniversary of McDade's death.

A Pasadena Police Department spokesman said the two officers were not disciplined because they did not violate policy.

A Los Angeles County district attorney's office report into the shooting in 2012 said the officers had reasonably believed McDade, 19, was armed with a gun based on false information from a 911 caller.

"The actions of McDade during the pursuit in conjunction with the information known to the officers at the time of the shooting reasonably created a fear of imminent death or serious bodily injury," Deputy District Attorney Deborah A. Delport wrote in the report. "Once the officers perceived that McDade posed an apparent lethal threat their response with deadly force was justified."

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