25 Feb Police Killing of Man With 53 Firearms Was Suicide, Coroner’s Jury Says

Rifles recovered by Richmond Police Officers during a warrant search of a residence in the 1200 block of Sanderling Island on June 28, 2023. During the search, Kevin McDonald, 66, raised an AR-15-style pistol toward officers and was killed. (Richmond Police Department via Bay City News)

By Bay City News

The police killing of a man in a 2023 confrontation was a suicide, a Contra Costa County coroner’s inquest found Friday.

A coroner’s jury determined the manner of death for 66-year-old Kevin James McDonald of Richmond, Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston said. A coroner’s jury is typically convened in fatal incidents involving law enforcement.

McDonald died June 28,2023, when police were serving a search warrant in the 1200 block of Sanderling Island, where 53 firearms were found.

Video released by Richmond police showed officers shooting and killing McDonald when he pointed a gun at them while they searched the home.

Police were initially investigating 63-year-old Jose Martinez, who also lived at the residence and was arrested earlier that day, accused of brandishing and firing a weapon the previous weekend in Point Richmond.

Martinez allegedly had a firearm in his vehicle when police pulled him over at 4:09 a.m. June 28 on Interstate 580, near Regatta Boulevard.

Police said Martinez admitted to possessing firearms in his bedroom and told police he lived at the home on Sanderling Island.
Police said Martinez had prior felony arrests that would prohibit him from possessing firearms.

Officers arrived at the home with a search warrant to retrieve Martinez’s weapons at 9:08 a.m. on June 28.

Bodycam video released by Richmond police showed officers knocking on the front door and making numerous announcements identifying themselves, while demanding entry. They eventually entered using a key provided by Martinez.

The video showed officers searching the house and repeatedly calling McDonald by name, asking him to come downstairs. They announced themselves as police before opening McDonald’s bedroom door.

In the video, an officer yells “gun” and shots are fired. Part of McDonald’s body and at least one gun is visible in the video. Police said McDonald raised an AR-15-style pistol before police fired.

Like Martinez, McDonald had a prior felony conviction prohibiting him from having firearms.

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