A San Jose police officer who wrongly shot a black football hero has resigned after officials discovered he had sent racist text messages laced with the N-word.
Mark McNamara resigned from his position this week after an investigation into his involvement in a gunfight found he sent colleagues offensive messages stating he “hated black people.”
During a 2022 incident, McNamara shot former high school football star K’aun Green, who is now a Contra Costa College linebacker, four times in the back, abdomen and arm.
Once an investigation began into why McNamara shot Green, officials were alerted to a series of sick text messages sent to two unnamed recipients — described only as one active department employee and a former department employee.
The texts were related to the shooting and were dated the day after the incident occurred.
Mark McNamara resigned earlier this week after an investigation into his involvement in a 2022 shooting revealed offensive messages he sent to colleagues in which he wrote that he “hated black people.”
McNamara was involved in a shootout in which K’aun Green, a former high school football star and now Contra Costa College linebacker, was shot four times in the back, abdomen and arm.
One of the two dozen text messages read: “N**** wanted to carry a gun in the Wild West. Not on my watch haha’ while another read ‘I hate black people’
One of the two dozen text messages read: “N**** wanted to carry a gun in the Wild West. Not on my watch haha’, while another read: ‘I hate black people’.
San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata said about the revelation: “Earlier this week, through an unrelated criminal investigation into one of our officers, Internal Affairs investigators discovered that the officer had sent disgusting text messages that demonstrated racial bias.
‘Home Affairs immediately started a separate proactive administrative investigation. These reports have come to light in recent days and hours and that official is no longer employed by the municipality.
“There is zero tolerance for even one expression of racial bias in the San Jose Police Department.
“The messages were found through the expansion of our Internal Affairs Unit’s efforts to thoroughly investigate all questionable behavior. That is why we have invested in a new early warning system.”
The employee who received the messages has been placed on administrative leave and “pending an internal investigation.”
During a brawl at the city’s La Victoria taqueria, Green struggled with an active shooter and took his gun. He then held the gun and began to slowly walk out of the restaurant with his back to the doors
But what should have been a heroic moment for Green turned out to be sad, because when police arrived on the scene, they saw Green with the gun and assumed he was the shooter, shooting him.
After it was revealed that Green was not the active shooter in the restaurant brawl, police explained why they shot Green, saying that a murder had occurred a block earlier and that they “feared” that the brawl and murder had were related.
During a brawl at the city’s La Victoria taqueria, Green struggled with an active shooter and took his gun. He then held the gun and began to slowly walk out of the restaurant with his back to the doors.
But what should have been a heroic moment for Green turned out to be sad, because when police arrived on the scene, they saw Green with the gun and assumed he was the shooter, then shot him.
After it was revealed that Green was not the active shooter in the restaurant brawl, police explained why they shot Green, saying that a murder had occurred a block earlier and that they “feared” that the brawl and murder had were related.
Although clarifications were given, the police never apologized for their actions or backed down from their position.
Green’s lawyer, Adante Pointer, argued that there were many other, more thoughtful approaches that police could have taken
Although Green was unaware of the revelation, his lawyers knew what had happened. One of them, named Angel Alexander, revealed Green’s thoughts on the texts, saying, “He was shocked and angry.”
Green’s attorney, Adante Pointer, argued that there were many other, more thoughtful approaches that police could have taken.
“They had a lot of different tactical options available to them than they chose, which was storming a tight space where you don’t know who’s who, what’s what, how many weapons there are or anything like that.” Pointer said.
“They could have used the loudspeaker and said, ‘Everyone out, hands up, we’ve got the place surrounded.’
Although Green was unaware of the revelation, his lawyers knew what had happened. One of them, named Angel Alexander, revealed Green’s thoughts on the texts, saying, “He was shocked and angry.”
Officials said they do not expect criminal charges will be filed over the text messages.