The Contra Costa District Attorney's Office has released a report detailing the events leading up to the use of force death of 66-year-old Kevin James McDonald in Richmond. The report, part of an initiative aimed at providing transparency in cases involving law enforcement, sheds light on the incident that occurred last June.
According to the office, in June 2023, Richmond Police officers were involved in an investigation of a firearm offense by a local resident, which led to an arrest and a search warrant for the suspect's residence. Officers knew that McDonald, who was not a suspect himself, resided in that same household. During a search of the home, McDonald, armed with a loaded assault rifle, was shot and killed by police after he reportedly raised the weapon toward them.
District Attorney Diana Becton said, "Six years ago, my office made a commitment to transparency by releasing Law Enforcement Involved Fatality Incidents reports publicly." She added, "Since then, we've continued this practice. I firmly believe this policy has helped build public trust and improve public safety in Contra Costa County." This echoes the DA's continued effort to maintain openness with the community regarding such critical incidents.
The legal analysis provided by the District Attorney's review concluded, "the officer's use of deadly force was lawful and justified." As a result, no charges will be filed against Detective Robert Branch and Sergeant Alex Caine in relation to McDonald's death. In the detailed report, the DA's office outlines the autopsy findings, the outcomes of a coroner’s inquest, and a thorough legal analysis based on the totality of the circumstances of the case.
For those interested in further details regarding this use of force incident, the full LEIFI report for Kevin James McDonald has been made available to the public. It can be accessed through Contra Costa County's official website.
