The man who reported an armed robbery in Pasadena that ended with the death of a 19-year-old suspect was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, police said.
Oscar Carrillo told police Saturday night that he had been the victim of an armed robbery near Orange Grove Boulevard and Summit Avenue, said Lt. Phlunté Riddle, a spokeswoman at the Pasadena Police Department.
Carrillo’s backpack and laptop were stolen, but his claims that the robbers were armed, a fact that framed a subsequent police pursuit, were unfounded, according to Pasadena police.
"Officers responded believing that an armed robbery had occurred," said Pasadena Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez.
Kendrec McDade, 19, and his minor-aged accomplice ran in opposite directions after Carrillo said he returning from buying tacos at a food truck to find the two men in his car.
Initial reports noted that Carrillo backed away from the car when one of the suspected thieves pulled what looked like a silver pistol. But now, police and McDade’s family attorney, said there was never any weapon.
The department released audio of the 911 call, during which the dispatcher asked, "Do they have any weapons?"
Caller: "Yeah. They have a gun."
Dispatcher: "And they took your backpack?"
Caller: "Yeah."
Dispatcher: "How long ago?"
Caller: "Two minutes ago."
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Officers responded to the scene Saturday shortly before midnight and, acting on Carrillo’s 911 call that there were guns involved, fired at McDade during a pursuit when the teen reached for his waistband. McDade died at the hospital.
The investigation into the shooting continued Monday as detectives re-interviewed Carrillo and the officers involved. That reexamination came after a weekend-long search of the three-block area between where the theft occurred and where McDade was shot at 751 Sunset Ave. turned up no weapon, Riddle said.
"There are very serious questions as to the credibility of the caller that triggered the police response," family attorney Caree Harper said. "His lie triggered a series of events that caused my client's son to be killed in the street like a dog. And we want justice."
The shooting took place in a dark, mixed-use area and there were no witnesses, Riddle said. McDade died at a hospital. A 17-year-old Pasadena boy, said to be with McDade during the incident, was arrested and charged with grand theft. The laptop and the backpack have not been found.
McDade was a former football player at Azusa High School, where the 5-foot-7-inch, 160 pound running back, cornerback and kick returner was in the class of 2010, according to the football recruiting website, berecruited.com.
His potential major in college was law, the site said.
The In the Huddle sports blog of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune listed McDade on the roster for the east division of the "Hall of Fame All-Star Game" in June 2010.
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