Gang Member, Evading Police, Tosses Loaded Revolver into Playground with Children at Play

A gang member evasively walking away from approaching Pasadena Police Special Enforcement Section officers in Robinson Park on North Fair Oaks Avenue Friday night tossed a loaded revolver into a playground occupied by about 10 youngsters, police said.

Kent Lowery, 19, of Pasadena, was arrested about 7 p.m. for felony child endangerment and felony possession of a handgun, Pasadena Police Lt. John Mercado said.

Mercado said the officers saw two “known gang members” in the park and were moving towards them to speak with them. As officers drew closer, the pair moved eastward, going through the children’s playground.

“While the officers were following the pair on foot, they saw Lowery toss an object into the playground,” Mercado said.

After officers detained Lowery and went back to examine the object, they discovered it was a loaded .38 caliber revolver, Mercado said. There were approximately ten children playing in the playground on the apparatus at the time of the incident.

“It’s not outside the realm of possibility” that a revolver thrown to the ground in such a situation could discharge, Mercado said. In this case the weapons did not fire, and there were no injuries reported.