Local Man Accused of Killing Brother of Former Lakers Star Michael Cooper Set to Be Arraigned in Pasadena Thursday

A Pasadena resident accused of killing Mickey Cooper, the younger brother of former Lakers great Michael Cooper, is scheduled to be arraigned early Thursday, Feb. 15, at the Pasadena Courthouse.

Twenty-four-year-old Aaron Miguel Conell has been charged with the murder of Cooper, aged 64, at Washington Park on November 18.

In addition to this charge, Conell faces one count of attempted murder from an incident on October 29, where a man was shot in the neck at the same park, and one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm for an event on November 5, where he allegedly pointed a gun at a man seated in a car at a Pasadena gas station.

The charges suggest Conell used a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun during the crimes and that he inflicted great bodily injury on the October 29 shooting victim.

Mickey Cooper, the younger brother of former Lakers star Michael Cooper, was discovered with gunshot wounds early in the morning after Pasadena police were alerted by a ShotSpotter gunshot detection signal.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Michael Cooper, known for his defensive skills during the Lakers’ “Showtime” championship era and later coaching roles, including with the Los Angeles Sparks, later said that the park was a place of safety and comfort for his brother, despite Mickey’s struggles with drug addiction.

Conell, arrested late on November 18, remains jailed with bail set at $4.25 million.

The nature of the shootings suggests they were random attacks, authorities have indicated. Conell’s arrest involved coordination with the United States Marshals Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force and Pasadena police’s SWAT and K-9 units. If convicted of the charges, Conell could face more than 50 years to life in prison.