Eric Garcetti

Parents of Teen Shot by Pasadena Police Get $1M

The parents of an unarmed 19-year-old man fatally shot by two police officers following a false 911 call of an armed robbery will get $1 million, officials said.

The payments settle a federal wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit brought by the parents of Kendrec McDade against the city.

His mother, Anya Slaughter, will get $850,000 and his father, Kenneth McDade will get $187,500.

The settlement was announced last week on the eve of trial in Los Angeles federal court, but the specific dollar amounts were not revealed until Monday.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard said in a statement that while the settlements provide some closure, "this unfortunate incident will not be forgotten."

"It serves to remind us of how difficult police work is and the terrible consequences that can occur during emergency situations," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all of the people directly connected to the shooting, including our officers and especially the family of Kendrec McDade as they work to move beyond the loss of their son."

Kendrec McDade was shot eight times by Pasadena police officers Mathew Griffin and Jeffrey Newlen in March 2012.

McDade was unarmed and the caller, Oscar Carrillo-Gonzalez, later admitted to lying in order to get a faster police response and was convicted of making a false report, according to court documents.

Carrillo-Gonzalez pleaded guilty in June 2013 to two misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to 180 days split between jail and a Caltrans work crew.

Police said the officers believed McDade had a weapon, because Carrillo-Gonzalez told a 911 dispatcher he had been robbed of his backpack by armed assailants.

Carrillo-Gonzalez later admitted that he never saw a gun and had lied to the 911 operator because he was angry and believed that officers would respond more quickly if they thought a gun was involved.

The police department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office determined the shooting justified. The officers said they saw McDade reach into his waistband so they fired in self defense and in defense of others, officials said.

Contact Us