Meanwhile, in Pasadena: Police shoot unarmed black teenager, blame death on person who called 911

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Pasadena Trayvon Martin: Police shoot unarmed black teenager, then blame death on person who called 911

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120330/pasadena-trayvon-martin-police-shoot-unarmed-black-teen-kendrec-mcdade

In a case with some similarities to the recent shooting death of Trayvon Martin, Pasadena police say that an unarmed black teenager was killed because of an overzealous 911 caller. In this case, however, it was the police who shot the teenager.

Kendrec McDade, 19, was fatally shot by Pasadena police on March 24th after being suspected of armed robbery.

Oscar Carrillo, 26, returned to his car from a taco truck on Saturday night when he found McDade and another man going through the contents of his car, the Pasadena Sun reported. The men fled, and Carrillo called the police. In his phone call, Carrillo said that the men pointed a gun at him.

"Two guys ... just put a gun in my face," the caller said, according to the Los Angeles Times. He said the two men had stolen his laptop.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

1. That's an absolutely DREADFUL case

I live in SoCal and there has been news coverage of the protests over this, comparing it somewhat to the Florida shooting tragedy. The police shot down an innocent unarmed young man on the sidewalk when he turned towards their car. It turns out the 911 caller was lying and he's being charged. Meanwhile, the two cops are getting paid leave during the investigation. Supposedly it would be normal procedure for a car camera to record this kind of incident but the police had turned it off, causing a lot of controversy. So many wasted lives from itchy trigger fingers.

[Occulus]

11. Shoot someone, get a paid vacation

That practice needs to end. Now.

[Initech]

2. We have some seriously shitty and out of control police forces in LA and Orange County.

Where I live - Fullerton / North Anaheim area the Fullerton police beat and killed a homeless guy and the fallout from that was so immense that it forced a recall of the mayor and three council members with people protesting outside city hall like every day after it happened. I'm sure that the fall out from this will have the same impact if not worse.

[Live and Learn]

3. It's been all over the news here in S. Cal.

They arrested the 911 caller for manslaughter but I doubt that will stick. False reporting sure but the murder was done by the police.

Edited to add s to new.

Edited 2nd time to change 1st degree murder to manslaughter after it was pointed out below. It was first reported by a radio station (KFI - I believe) as 1st degree murder but newspapers are saying manslaughter.

[Alameda]

4. WTF.....talk about passing the buck.

Just who was it that pulled the trigger?

[Initech]

6. Wait - so the police killed a guy and the person who called 911 was arrested for murder.

[uponit7771]

8. +1!

[BeHereNow]

9. As Bugliosi pointed out in "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder"

the murderer was not present and yet responsible for murder.
He proved the same in the case of Manson.
Legally, the caller can be seen as responsible for the shooting, thus murder.
BHN

[Live and Learn]

14. Bush was the commander

and those under him were legally bound to follow his orders.

I am still leery of the Manson verdict. Not that I want him on the streets but he had no legal authority over the people, nor did he pay them. Still, he did tell them to murder.

The caller had no legal authority, nor did he ask anyone to kill them. A world of difference.

[fishwax]

12. 1st degree murder or involuntary manslaughter?

The article in the OP says involuntary manslaughter, but I've not heard much on this case until this thread, so I can't attest to its accuracy ...

[Live and Learn]

15. You are correct

I first heard it on the radio and it was reported as 1st degree murder but newspaper reports say manslaughter.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Both the police and the caller should be in jail.

[Logical]

7. The police more than the caller.

[BeHereNow]

10. As a person who lives in the area, I have to disagree with you on that.

Anyone who has lived in SoCal for any time at all knows
that telling 911 a young black man was armed increases the
risk of that young man being shot by the police-
ESPECIALLY in THAT neighborhood.
Pasadena has a LARGE contingent of racist residents from ALL
cultures who all seem to hate one another.
Hate to say it, but it is true.
In fairness, Pasadena also has some wonderful people living there too.
But as a whole, LA County is probably one of the most corrupt systems in the
United States.
(Outside of DC, that is)
BHN

[Live and Learn]

13. You are ignoring the reason the 911 caller told the police

that they were robbed. He wanted them to show up quickly. Anyone who has ever been burglarized knows the cops don't just rush over.

And I doubt the guy thought for a second that anyone would get shot. Maybe he was naive but some people still like to think that cops don't shoot first especially when a person is unarmed.

I am sick of hearing that all these guys go for their waist when they don't even have a gun. Even a suspect with a gun doesn't do that unless they want to die and nobody wants to die for a simple burglary charge. I don't believe the police version for a second.

[pinboy3niner]

16. Pasadena Police Chief asks for independent investigation by County Sheriff's Dept.

(Pasadena Police Chief Phillip) Sanchez said he wanted to "start the healing process" and said that he had asked the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Office of Independent Review to investigate the case. He asked for prayers both for the McDade family and for the officers who shot him.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pasadena-chief-20120401,0,7506723.story