Man Killed In Pasadena Christmas Shooting Was LA County Sheriff's Employee

PASADENA (CBS/AP) — The man killed in a Christmas Day shooting in Pasadena was identified Wednesday as a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department employee and the director of a youth sports league.

Victor McClinton, 49, a sheriff's law enforcement technician, was fatally shot early Tuesday and another man in his 20s was wounded and listed in critical condition at a nearby hospital. McClinton had been with the Sheriff's Department for the past 18 years, agency spokesman Steve Whitmore said.

"Everybody says he was an extraordinary employee," Whitmore said. McClinton is survived by a wife and two young adult sons.

McClinton was the director of the Brotherhood Community Youth Sports League of Pasadena. A portion of the message posted on the organization's website read:

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear friend and community youth advocate Victor McClinton. Victor died tragically yesterday.

"While there have been many rumors regarding the details of his passing, there is an official investigation being carried out and we ask that with respect to the McClinton family please refrain from speculation and allow the investigation to proceed."

McClinton was honored in 2008 as a KNX Hero Of The Week. He spoke then about his first experience coaching a team of young girls whose previous coach had quit.

Police don't believe McClinton was the target of the shooting, which left a red sedan riddled with bullet holes. No arrests have been made.

More than eight hours later police say they tried to stop an SUV for a traffic violation as it headed away from an area near the murder scene when the vehicle sped away. Police gave pursuit and the SUV smashed into a van, killing a 26-year-old woman and an 11-year-old boy in the other vehicle.

A neighbor said she had just come outside to wish a happy holiday to McClinton, who was chatting with another coach in front of his home, when she witnessed the shooting.

"Once everything had all calmed down we all kind of peeked outside the windows and saw what had happened," the neighbor said.

She and other neighbors said they were deeply saddened by his death. They had nothing but high praise for the coach.

"It's such a horrible thing to have happened on such a special day," said a neighbor who did not want to be identified. "He was a great, loving man, who was very generous with his time."

"Occasionally, one person means a lot to thousands and he is one of these people," family friend Walter Butler said.

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