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FBI Opens Investigation Into Pasadena Police's Fatal Shooting of an Unarmed Man
Screenshot of Kendrec McDade (KTLA)
Add the FBI to the list of agencies probing the fatal shooting of Kendrec McDade by Pasadena Police Department officers last month.McDade, 19, was gunned down by police after they received a call from a man alleging—falsely, it turns out—that two men had stolen his backpack and laptop at gunpoint. (It seems that a burglary may have occurred: police say they have a tape showing McDade acting as lookout while another suspect rifled through a car. However, no loot or gun were ever recovered from the scene.) The District Attorney's Office and the County Office of Independent Review, as well as the Pasadena Police Department, have opened inquiries into the shooting.
FBI spokesman Laura Eimiller told the Pasadena Star-News that the agency was investigating allegations of civil rights violations in the case. The Pasadena Police Department had asked for an FBI probe on Monday, but the FBI said its concerns about the case began long before that letter.
The family of McDade has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that police did not identify themselves before shooting McDade. It claims that officers did not immediately call paramedics but handcuffed him and let him writhe in pain before administering first aid.
"The FBI had been aware of the concerns about questions being raised about civil rights violations before the chief's letter on Monday," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told the Star-News. "In civil rights cases, we forward the results of the assessment to Washington D.C. and it's determined whether further investigation is warranted or whether prosecution is warranted."
Related:
9-1-1 Caller Arrested For Lying About Suspect That Police Later Fatally Shot
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