Driver in McClain Shooting Arrested on Parole Violation

The driver of the car in which Anthony McClain was riding is shown as he follows instructions from a Pasadena police officer moments before McClain (who can be seen in the background) was fatally shot by a second officer. Screenshot from a body worn camera video provided by the Pasadena Police Dept.

The driver of the car in the fatal police shooting of Anthony McClain has been taken into custody for a parole violation, Pasadena Now has learned.

Police stopped the driver, who has not been identified, at about 7:53 p.m. on Aug. 15 on North Raymond Avenue near La Pintoresca Park because the vehicle he was driving did not have a front license plate.

Moments later, things took a turn for the worse when McClain fled and one police officer fired two shots, including one which hit McClain in the upper torso.

“The parole hold on the driver is not a decision by the Pasadena Police Department,” said Police Chief John Perez. “It is one by the state Board of Parole.”

Because the names of the officers involved have not been revealed, Pasadena Now is not revealing the record of the driver or McClain.

Perez said he intends to release the officers’ names. However, it was not immediately known when that would happen.

Happenstance may have brought McClain and the driver together moments before police stopped the car they were in.

“Anthony McClain, Sr. was walking in Northwest Pasadena when he saw a friend drive by,” according to a claim against the city regarding the shooting that was filed by attorney Caree Harper. “The friend stopped and picked Mr. McClain up and proceeded to turn onto Raymond Ave. from Grandview. Anthony had just finished a FaceTime call with his only daughter.”

Harper is representing McClain’s grandmother, sister, and his children.

The driver pulled over and cooperated with police officers during the stop, and during and after the shooting. He voluntarily admitted he did not have a valid driver’s license.

Police officers on the scene said McClain had a gun. Perez told reporters that McClain shifted his body toward police as he ran, which made them fearful for their lives.

Community members have said McClain was unarmed and police mistook his belt buckle for a weapon. Police said they recovered a gun at the scene and the weapon is being tested for McClain’s fingerprints and DNA.

The officer that fired the shots did not turn on his body-worn camera until after the shots were fired and McClain was on the ground.

After the shooting, the driver complied with commands by a police officer to lie on the ground and remain there.

According to information obtained by Pasadena Now, paramedics were at the scene of the officer-involved shooting less than five minutes after being called to the incident.

Paramedics were dispatched at 7:55 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 7:59 p.m. McClain arrived at Huntington Hospital at 8:10 p.m., where he later died.

Family members have filed multiple claims against the city.

“This officer cowardly shot Anthony McClain in the back,” said attorney Luis Carrillo, who represents Archie Barry, who at a press conference said he is McClean’s father.

“This city does not train its police officers well,” Carrillo continued. “Anthony McClain was no imminent threat to this officer or any officers when he was cowardly shot in the back by this police officer. That officer, that night, was trigger happy.”

In the separate claim filed by Harper, the attorney said the “Pasadena Police Department has had a troubling pattern of ‘policing itself’ and claimants believe that the state Attorney General should investigate. Claimants are concurrently filing a complaint with the state Department of Justice and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.”

A private memorial event honoring McClain was held at La Pintoresca Park on Saturday.

In a statement issued by the city, officials said, “any loss of life is tragic and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. McClain. Incidents such as these have a traumatic impact on the family, our Pasadena community, and our dedicated law enforcement personnel.

“We cannot change what has occurred, but we can ensure that this incident will be fully investigated; investigations that are already underway. Additionally, we will initiate an independent, third-party review of this incident that will result in a publically available report. Our community deserves to know more about this incident and we will provide the facts. We understand the urgency and will proceed diligently and with all speed until this important work is done. ”