Pasadena-area leaders hold peace and unity rally against violence
Pasadena-area community leaders staged a peace and unity rally Sunday afternoon to denounce recent violence that claimed the life of longtime youth sports leader and community activist Victor McClinton, among others.
About 250 people gathered on the steps of All Saints Episcopal Church near City Hall to hear city leaders, clergy members and law enforcement officials discuss ways to stem the violence.
“It was a call for peace and for the community to come together in light of some of the recent gang violence and shootings that have occurred,†said William Boyer, a Pasadena public information officer.
Speakers included the Rev. Ed Bacon of All Saints, Pastor Jean Burch of Community Bible Church, Pastor Kerwin Manning of Pasadena Church, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, Police Chief Phillip Sanchez and a representative from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“The message was we need to do something about all the gun violence that seems to be happening across the country,†Boyer said. “It can’t just be the city alone. It has to be the public, the clergy, parents and young people. It has to be a collaborative effort. We have to take back the city, say no to gangs and say no to guns. We have to turn it into a message of hope for young people.â€
About 400 people gathered Thursday evening at Pasadena City Hall to mourn McClinton, who was killed by stray gunfire on Christmas morning.
McClinton, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department technician, died outside his home in the 1900 block of Newport Avenue, near Wyoming Street. A second man, who may have been the target of the drive-by shooting, was wounded, according to police.
McClinton, 49, founded the Brotherhood Community Youth Sports League nearly two decades ago and served as its volunteer director, the Pasadena Sun reported.
Two others were killed Christmas day when a driver being pursued by police crashed into a minivan. Tracey Ong Tan, 26, of Glendale and an 11-year-boy from Daly City, Calif., were pronounced dead at the scene. Three other occupants of the minivan were seriously injured.
On Friday, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office filed murder charges, with an enhancement for gang activity, against Darrell Lee Williams, 22, of Pasadena and Brittany Michelle Washington, 21, of Los Angeles. Williams was allegedly driving the Dodge Durango that struck the minivan. Washington was a passenger in the Durango. Two other passengers were not charged. All four occupants sustained moderate injuries.
Pasadena police said Williams was a parolee with ties to gangs and that there was a warrant out for his arrest at the time of the collision.
Williams is being held at Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles in lieu of $1.095-million bail. Washington is being held in lieu of $1-million bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood.
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