Suspect Arrested, Charged with Murder of Victor McClinton

[Updated Jan. 2, 2013 | 5:00 p.m.] Pasadena police said today that two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the Christmas Day murder of popular youth coach Victor McClinton, 49, of Pasadena, and the gunshot wounding of an alleged gang member, 24-year-old Damion Taylor of Pasadena.

Larry Darnell Bishop, Jr.,  20, of Chino, was arrested Dec. 28 and today was charged with McClinton’s murder, police said.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Bishop was charged with one count of murder with the special circumstances of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle and murder to further a criminal street gang.

Bishop is also charged with one count of attempted murder, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a felon, charges that include personal discharge of a handgun.

Additionally, Bishop is charged with the attempted murder of Taylor in that same incident, and other counts, including discharging a firearm into an inhabited dwelling. The charges carry a gang enhancement, which could make Bishop eligible for the death penalty, the District Attorney’s office said.

Arrested on Dec. 29 and charged with harboring Bishop and helping him escape is Gary Aurthur David, 20,  of Pasadena.

Deputy District Attorney Mark Inaba with the Hardcore Gang Division said that Bishop and Davis, 20, will make their first court appearance this afternoon at Los Angeles Superior Court in Pasadena, Department D.

Bishop is charged with fatally shooting Victor McClinton, 49, who was gunned down about 11 a.m. on Christmas Day at Newport Avenue and Wyoming Street in Pasadena. The father of two was walking a fellow coach to his car when he was fatally shot, authorities said.

Bishop is also charged with the attempted murder of a driver who crashed his vehicle into a light pole after he sustained a gunshot wound.

Prosecutors said they will decide later whether to seek the death penalty for Bishop, who was convicted of two felony commercial burglaries in San Bernardino County.

There is no evidence at this time that McClinton’s fatal shooting is related to a brief high-speed car chase that killed two people in the same area hours later. Police are still investigating both incidents, authorities said.

“The McClinton family and the community has been greatly impacted by this senseless crime. The criminal filings against these two individuals are appropriate given the circumstance of the shooting. This outcome is the result of many days of hard work by Pasadena Police Detectives and other law enforcement entities, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department.”, stated Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez.

The investigation is on-going. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241, Detective Keith Gomez at (626) 744-4511, or you may report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or http://lacrimestoppers.org (insert key word Pasadena).