Victor McClinton was shot to death near his Pasadena home in the 1900 block of Newport Avenue on Christmas at about 11 a.m. Neighbor Lorraine Valenzuela says she heard a gunshot outside and knew something terrible had happened.
"I looked and I noticed that coach was shot, and then I heard a second bang," Valenzuela said. "I counted eight shots."
Another man, 24-year-old Damian Taylor, was wounded in the shooting. Police say he is a gang associate.
"There does not appear to be any connection between Mr. Taylor and Mr. McClinton except that they were in the same general area when the shooting occurred," said Pasadena Police Chief Philip Sanchez.
Friends say McClinton, an 18-year employee of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department as a law enforcement technician, was a loving father, husband and great humanitarian who devoted his life to helping the youth.
"What the community has lost today is someone who made a difference in not just the lives of the children in the community, but of entire families. The whole community is grieving," said family friend Sakae Manning.
"Victor was a person for all people. He saw no color," said friend Walter Butler.
Detectives need the public's help making an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to call Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
