Police Exploring Multiple Approaches to Stop Spate of Shootings

In an email to Pasadena Now, Pasadena police officials said the recent spike in gun violence that has rocked Pasadena is also occurring in other parts of the region.

“As you know, we had a shooting in the 1000 block of Raymond Avenue on Christmas and the violence has spilled over into other regions across the San Gabriel Valley and into San Bernardino County,” said Lt. William Grisafe.

In that shooting, a 35-year-old Pasadena man who was shot and critically wounded was found by firefighters and paramedics at Fire Station 36 two blocks north of the crime scene, police said Saturday.

The man was rushed to a local hospital for treatment of multiple wounds, according to Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Burgess.

The weekend before, a Pasadena police helicopter was used to help track down a car in nearby Altadena after three people were wounded in a spate of shootings that took place within an hour. Three men were later arrested.

Two people were killed in a shooting at Villa Parke earlier this month. 

According to Grisafe, the cause of the violence seems to be the result of several different issues.

Pasadena Police Chief John Perez said he has been in contact with several police chiefs and Sheriff’s Department officials regarding the violence and has discussed applying a regional approach to putting a halt to the gang violence. 

Perez previously worked as a community relations officer and coordinated peace talks between gangs and helped to design prevention, intervention, and enforcement strategies while overseeing the department’s former Special Enforcement Section (SES).

“This year has been a challenge for all of us in the community to reduce illegal gun possession and stop street violence,” Perez told Pasadena Now. “I worry every day for our young people.  We suffered two tragic OIS (officer-involved shootings), but the community should be proud of the overall approach by our officers with over 200 guns seized from cars and waistbands. Prevention is our first priority, but it is difficult without enforcement measures as well.  It should be the community’s top priority!”

In the first officer-involved shooting, Lloyd Nelson, Jr. opened fire on police through his windshield at the conclusion of a low-speed chase on May 8. 

The former LA County Sheriff’s Department deputy and ex-Marine fired two shots through the windshield of his Mitsubishi at a Pasadena police officer, according to video footage shown to local reporters.

He continued to fire as he sprang from his vehicle before he was fatally wounded on Corson Street near Allen Avenue, forcing police to respond with lethal force.

In the second incident three months later on Aug. 15, a Pasadena police officer fatally shot Anthony McClain during a traffic stop near La Pintoresca Park.

McClain, 32, was a passenger in a car that was pulled over on North Raymond Avenue for failing to display a front license plate.

In the seconds that followed, Pasadena Police Department officials have said McClain ran from officers, drawing a handgun from his waistband as he fled, prompting Officer Edwin Dumaguindin to open fire. McClain continued running a short distance before tossing a handgun across the street and collapsing, according to police. 

But through their attorneys, family members of McClain have argued that the shooting was unnecessary and unjustified.

McClain’s DNA was recovered from a pistol that police seized at the scene, investigators said.

According to police, there are two methods to stop the violence. But one of those is only a short-term solution, which requires officers to conduct proactive field investigations of potential gang activity or criminal behavior.  This will work but it remains difficult in the current political and cultural climate.

This year, Pasadena officers seized nearly 300 guns, removing 100 from waistbands and inside cars. Perez supports the enforcement efforts and will continue to hold himself accountable for the performance of his officers.

The second approach involves a prevention/intervention process (violence interruption), requiring senior gang members to stop the violence through their influence, as well as to train community members for long-term intervention.

“This is an expensive journey,” Grisafe said, “Youth gang members need to be persuaded by influence or by deterrent from being active; and, simultaneously, interrupting the violence through face-to-face influence by community members (former gang members) to convince others not to retaliate.”   

The prevention/intervention process is described as a decade-long investment in nonprofits and outreach requiring “at the hip” partnership with the police and an effort that should not be led by PPD. That approach requires other departments to take the point with the help of nonprofits.

“We know how to solve the problem of gang violence, but if we don’t invest properly to keep it solved — the violence will undoubtedly return,” Grisafe said. 

Chief Perez said he understands the difficult challenges and a holistic approach must be made to stop the violence,

“I am fortunate our city manager and other city leaders clearly understand the dynamics and are willing to provide needed guidance towards the prevention of continued violence,” Perez said.