Pascual Defendant Allowed to Live With Mom

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

BY JOHN CHAPPELL

Staff Writer

A teen charged in a drive-by murder in Robbins will be able to live with his mother until his trial, though their exact address is sealed.

Bryant Andrew McKinney will live at home until his trial or other disposition of his case. Four members of his family face charges arising from the street shooting March 31, 2009.

Tomas Pascual, 18, died from a single shot from a .22-caliber rifle fired from a red Camaro as he stood talking with friends across from Tabernacle Methodist Church. Police charged Michael Lee Stidham and McKinney with first-degree murder. McKinney's brother, Trae Mckinney, and their parents were charged as accessory after the fact.

In January, Stidham pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He did not speak, but through his attorney, C. Scott Holmes, of Durham, apologized to Pascual's family.

During the investigation, Stidham had originally told police that McKinney shot Pascual. But Holmes told the court that Stidham later admitting firing the fatal shot himself.

On Tuesday, in Superior Court, Arthur Donadio asked Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James M. Webb to make changes in the conditions of Bryant McKinney's release. Previously, the teen had been released to the custody of his grandparents. His grandmother died recently, and Donadio wanted the court to allow the boy to live with his mother at her new home.

She no longer lives in Robbins, Donadio told Webb. He said there is no reason to fear any attacks in retribution from family or friends of Pascual.

"His mother has relocated," Donadio said. "I have passed to the DA the location of her new residence which is not in the public file. The defense has a motion to shift his residence to his mother's home. The reason to move from grandmother to mother is that she is no longer living in Robbins."

Webb asked the mother if she had anything to say about it.

"I'd love to have my son back home," Tara Reynolds told Webb. "I'd love to have the family back together."

His two brothers, 18 and 13 years of age, also live in the home, she said in response to questions from Webb.

Assistant District Attorney Warren McSweeney said the state had no objection to the change but noted that the mother, father and younger brother all face charges in the shooting.

Webb granted the motion for change of residence and modified the conditions of release. Donadio is to file a separate motion with the change of address. Webb ordered that it be sealed in an envelope marked not for release to public inspection.

McSweeney told Webb that the case is set for the June 2 morning session of Superior Court.

On the family's way out, the mother hinted she had a few things on her mind that she'd like to say - just not yet.

"It is still going on, so I can't say anything right now," Reynolds said, pausing at the courtroom door with her father and two sons. "I will have a lot to say then."

Contact John Chappell by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.

More like this story

nbrabham 3 years, 1 month ago

wow murderers go free

puglover34 3 years, 1 month ago

Look nbrabham, if you dont know the whole story and not what you hear on here or people talking then dont say anything. I hate when people do that and know nothing of the situation. DID YOU NOT READ that Bryant is not the one that shot. He didnt know anyone was going to shoot. (Stidham admitted to shooting the boy) Read the article. I hate how people assume they know what happened. This has messed Bryants life up when he done nothing. Thats why he is out. I am truly so sorry for the family who lost their son. But please people find out the truth before you say anything. All will come out in the end. And everyone will see. Which they should already, because Stidham has made his plea and admitted he did this.

None 3 years, 1 month ago

Accessory after the fact so ther is alot of guilt. Maybe if you lost a son you would think differently. Maybe if this situation happened to you and those that were involved in some form or fashion were set free temporarily you would think and feel different. There is a young man who will never see his mothers face again. Nor live with her, nor smell the fresh air and taste her cooking. So he didn'tknow anyone was going to shoot but when the altercation transpired did he go to the police to report his friend or did he leave and leave that young man out there. Sometimes we may have to look at the company we keep.

Tarheelgal 3 years, 1 month ago

If the young man did nothing wrong was just in car at wrong time when shot was fired why did parents try and help cover it up? If he was truly innocent why didnt the parents drive him down to the police station to explain what happened or even call 911?? Too many teenagers these days think the way to resolve an issue when altercation happens with with a gun or a knife. Whatever happened to kids fist fighting and that was the end of it? Senseless loss of a young mans life and also the loss of a future for the youngman who pulled trigger thinking it would solve the issue!

puglover34 3 years, 1 month ago

I agree with some of whats being said, as so many have lost so much. As I said so much stuff was not even reported right. The parents didnt try to cover anything up. The parents didnt know anything like that even happened until they were taken in. The parents didnt take the boy and run, we gladly let the law enforcement in still not knowing how or what happened.. But as said before all people will assume what they want even thought they dont know the whole story. ANd 911 was called 3 times .. Did you know that no , because you dont know the story.

Tarheelgal 3 years, 1 month ago

Well then maybe someone needs to tell the REAL story!

RmeMP 3 years, 1 month ago

Do I hear a request for The Pilot to interview Mrs. McKinney? As long as it doesn't hinder the trial, it sounds like a good opportunity:) There are ways to conduct an interview without telling too much.

JohnChappell 3 years, 1 month ago

No trial has taken place for any defendant. The shooter plead guilty to second degree murder. There are court dates for the other boys and for everybody else charged in the case. For obvious reasons, they are holding off talking to reporters about details of the tragic death of a young man exactly one year ago today.

It was so soon after Pinelake that it hit hard. I remember standing in the road at the Hemp Street intersection that night looking at the circle of tire marks where the Camaro turned around and remembering my week of Vacation Bible School at that Methodist Church long, long ago -- and remembering my first ride on a merry-go-round horse when a carnival set up in that school yard.

Please try to remember that there are parents and children agonizing over every aspect of this. None of us know what story the evidence will tell in any resulting trial, what defense might be offered, or how a DA might relate evidence to support a plea should there be another one.

Let's wait. Somebody from The Pilot will cover Superior Court, and I hope it will be I. You can all come to court to watch, or read the report online or in the paper afterwards.

After all is said and done, I think many family members would be willing, even anxious, to come forward. For now, as attorneys and police would both advise, they are keeping what they might have to say for judge and jury.

RmeMP 3 years, 1 month ago

@johnchappell Thank you for a response - I know it can be difficult, sometimes impossible, to talk with reporters during an active case; if/when you get a court date for this case, I would be more than happy to attend :)

puglover34 3 years, 1 month ago

Thank you John Chappell . As I have already told you after it is over you will be the one that I sit with and tell everything I want to say. And as stated I would love to and have wanted to from the beginning but i cant. The whole story will come out soon and some people will eat their words as believing what they want to. They need to know the truth. This is very difficult because Stidham took the life of a child, son and friend of people. But His lies about it took the Mckinney/Reynolds family down with him and ruined their life when he shouldnt have. It was a lie. There was so much stuff going around, people saying that wasnt true and still saying. So yes I will be glad when its over and can talk to Mr. Chappell so everyone knows the truth.