Coroner’s jury finds suicide in death of armed man shot by Richmond police

MARTINEZ — A coroner’s inquest jury ruled that the death of a 66-year-old Richmond resident who was shot by police in June as he hid, armed, from officers searching his home — filled with guns and ammunition — was suicide.

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The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office announced the jury’s finding Friday in the death of Kevin James McDonald. McDonald was fatally shot by Richmond police officers on June 28, 2023, after police encountered him in a bedroom of the home on 1200 block of Sanderling Island, holding an AR-style rifle, authorities said at the time.

Police had entered the home on a warrant after an investigation involving McDonald’s roommate, who had been arrested before the search. Officers lined up to enter the home, shouting a series of warnings that they were police and that McDonald should come out with his hands up.

Body camera footage released by the Richmond Police Department shows the officers entering the home and sweeping each room before entering an upstairs bedroom. An officer then shouted “Richmond police! Show me your hands!” then quickly shouted “Gun!” and fired on McDonald. The footage shows multiple guns visible around MacDonald in the room.

Police later found 53 guns in the home, including 48 in McDonald’s room, according to Richmond police Chief Bisa French. Among those 53 were 17 ghost guns — privately-manufactured weapons that don’t have serial numbers. Investigators also found a live grenade, gun manufacturing products and “well over 1,000 rounds of ammunition,” according to a police spokesperson. Both McDonald and his roommate each had prior felony convictions that prohibited them from owning guns, according to police.

“As you can see, the weapons are in plain view and readily accessible to Mr. McDonald as (officers) entered. This could’ve been very bad for our officers,” police spokesperson Sgt. Donald Patchin said at a news conference when the video was released.

All in-custody deaths in Contra Costa County are investigated by the District Attorney’s Office in compliance with county protocol, and all of those investigations end with a coroner’s inquest hearing. At the hearings, law enforcement personnel are asked to testify and jurors determine the manner of a person’s death by choosing one of four options — suicide, homicide, accident or by natural causes.

If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.