Police Say McClain’s DNA Found on Gun at Scene of Officer Involved Shooting

The Pasadena Police Department said on Thursday that the DNA of a local man killed by police was found on a gun recovered at the crime scene.

“The lab’s DNA Analysis Report identified only one person’s DNA located on the slide [upper section] of the firearm and firmly establishes the link between the DNA on the firearm and Mr. McClain,” according to a statement released by the department on Thursday. “The report also identified Mr. McClain’s DNA on other  parts of the firearm that were swabbed and the chain of custody of the firearm from the crime scene to the testing by this third party laboratory, will support these results.”

McClain was fatally shot on Aug. 15 after he fled during a traffic stop. Police said he had a gun, but reporters at Pasadena Now did not definitively see a gun after viewing the video. 

Police said the officer fired his weapon after McClain shifted towards them as he fled. 

Attorneys representing McClain’s family have maintained that he was unarmed. They argued that officers mistook McClain’s belt buckle for a gun and that the pistol found by officers at the scene, which police said McClain threw after being shot, was not his.

On Thursday, the police department said in its statement that the DNA evidence, officer’s statements, a recorded statement of a witness who saw McClain throw the firearm, and the video evidence all point to the incident unfolding as initially described by the Police Department.

The incident is being investigated by several agencies. 

“The loss of any life is extremely tragic and our prayers remain with the McClain family during this difficult period. In keeping with the commitment to  transparency and accountability, it is my public responsibility to conduct thorough and detailed investigations to get to the truth of what led to the death of a  community member,” said Pasadena Police Chief John Perez. “I remain concerned with false information and public  statements which increase the distrust we are seeing in our public servants,  placing them and their families in direct danger.”  

Perez said the department has shared all available information it can legally to this point of the incident. 

“With the release of all unedited video and audio recordings less than a week after the officer-involved shooting, the release of the involved officer’s name, and now the  DNA results, the Pasadena Police Department has provided the public with a  complete view of this critical incident rather than a limited view,” Perez said.