Unarmed African-American Teen Fatally Shot by Police
WHITFIELD: In California, Pasadena residents want to know why a teen was fatally shot by police. This is what we know so far. The incident began when a 911 caller said two armed men had stolen his computer and backpack. When the police arrived on the scene, they said they saw a young man running, and they chased him. That young man was 19-year-old Kendrick McDade. Police said it appeared to them that McDade was reaching for something near his waist. The officers fearing it was a gun. Fired multiple shots and killed him. Police now admit the young college student had no weapon him. As for the man who called 911, well, he confessed that he lied to police about the young man having a gun, and then he was arrested.</s>CHIEF PHILLIP SANCHEZ, PASADENA POLICE: Pasadena police officers responded to that scene, believing that an armed robbery had just occurred. The shooting of Mr. McDade is absolutely tragic.</s>WHITFIELD: The shooting has left many in the community outraged. At a town hall meeting yesterday, the police chief tried to answer questions. And there are still so many questions unanswered. Let's talk more about this now with criminal defense attorney and former prosecutors, Holly Hughes. All right. So as a former prosecutor, think about how this investigation will play out. Will it be the police department who are going to ask the questions, exactly how was this played out. Internal affairs -- will it be the D.A. who says, how -- what are the sequences of events? Was there a calling out of, freeze, you know, show me your hands, something before those weapons were fired?</s>HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Right. Well, there doesn't have to be, OK? What happens is, typically when the police holler out, police, freeze, something along those lines, it's to identify themselves. And you might see that with an undercover officer, an officer in plain clothes, detective, who is not necessarily identifiable. So, the fact that they didn't holler out, police, freeze, is not really the issue here. The issue is, they have been told, the police have been told these guys have guns. They robbed me. So they're already amped up. They're responding to a call where they believe there are weapons involved.</s>WHITFIELD: It still would be the police's responsibility to double- check or know that for sure because a caller can tell you anything. They know that.</s>HUGHES: That's exactly right. But here's the thing, that's a split- second decision. And I'm not saying it was right. I'm not saying it's justified to shoot. That's something that will be determined after all the facts and the evidence. And there are some things about it that give me pause.</s>WHITFIELD: Like what?</s>HUGHES: OK. What happens is, they get a call that there's two armed robber suspects with guns going down orange avenue or orange boulevard, I believe it was. So it's not a robbery in progress. So it's not like you're going to have to sneak up on them. Why weren't the lights and sirens activated? If the lights and sirens have been activated, Fred, the camera in the car automatically would have been on.</s>WHITFIELD: Right. And, apparently the videotape on the dash cam because that light is on.</s>HUGHES: Because that didn't happen. There's also a way to activate the camera --</s>WHITFIELD: Is there a reason why that wouldn't be activated?</s>HUGHES: That's a question we need answered. It's one of those unanswered questions we just talked about. I'll say this for the police chief, at least he got up there and gave a press conference. He is not running away. He's not hiding. He's trying to answer the questions. We are going to investigate because again, the young man is unarmed. Now, the officers responding don't know that. Their adrenaline's rushing. And when they reach for a waistband, the police don't have to wait until they see a gun, because by the time they see it, it could be too late. So it's going to come down to those split seconds, did they have another way to avoid it.</s>WHITFIELD: But something else might give them pause if they were looking for two men, and they see one.</s>HUGHES: Right.</s>WHITFIELD: One running, who fits the description.</s>HUGHES: That's a good reason to follow. No, I totally understand your concern. That's an absolutely good reason for them to follow. Because they might have split up for all we know. So what they know is, you know, let's place the blame where it fully lies, with the person who called in, and filed the false report, who has now admitted I made it up. He's been charged with involuntary manslaughter. I think the charges should be higher than that. I think it should be voluntary manslaughter because it was reckless disregard for human life. You send armed police officers after what you're saying are armed suspects?</s>WHITFIELD: Because of you just mentioned earlier, it's a split decision.</s>HUGHES: That's right, it's a split second.</s>WHITFIELD: That bodes well, really, for the police officers who will be asked for what happened exactly. But because there was that split decision, you know, that they had to make, that really does offer a level of protection.</s>HUGHES: Some level. But again, everything will factor into, why did you not activate your lights and sirens? Is that the only course of action you could have taken? Because this young man based on what we're hearing was in an alley. So, was there a way for him to escape the other end of the alley or do you know for a fact he was trapped because the shooting occurred while the officer was still inside the vehicle? That does not bode well. Technically they're allowed to do it, but there's got to be a really good reason. Because, if you're still in your reason, back up three feet if you think there's a gun pointed at you. At least at that point in time say stop or I'll shoot. Give some type of warning. But again, everything will be taken into consideration. Because on its face, we're all sitting here horrified that, oh, my God, but let's place the blame squarely where it lies, somebody sat there and said, this man has a gun and he robbed me and he's dangerous. And you've got the police officers out there, and you don't want a widow sitting home at night.</s>WHITFIELD: Sounds like a series of tough decision.</s>HUGHES: It absolutely was.</s>WHITFIELD: Calles that were made. Holly Hughes, thank you so much. And we'll be talking about this case much more. All right. Three mega winners, one huge fortune. But when will we find out who won this jackpot? Mega mania, next.