Suspect charged with 1988 Pasadena cold case slaying

PASADENA >> Prosecutors filed a murder charge Wednesday against a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a 39-year-old man in Pasadena more than 27 years ago, authorities said.
A U.S. Marshals task force arrested Albert Ahmad Clark, 53, on Monday at his Los Angeles home on suspicion of the Feb. 27, 1988, shooting death of Leroy Galloway, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.
Previously labeled a “cold case,” advances in forensic technology, along with tenacity of family members of Galloway who have never given up the pursuit of justice for him, led to recent, new developments in the case.
Police initially arrested Clark shortly after the shooting at Lake Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard.
“Due to the limitations of forensic science at the time, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Albert Clark for homicide and he was released without any charges in February of 1989,” according to the police statement.
But family members of the victim approached detectives in 2013 and asked them to take a fresh look at the case, police said.
“An extensive examination of the case file by Pasadena Police Homicide Detectives identified items of evidence that were suitable for modern forensic analysis. The ultimate test results by the Los Angeles County Crime Lab implicated Albert Clark in the crime.”
Prosecutors filed a murder charge against Clark Wednesday, along with the special allegation that he personally used a gun in the crime, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Ricardo Santiago said.
He said Clark’s arraignment was continued to Dec. 23 at Pasadena Superior Court.
Clark was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, police added.
A motive or other further details regarding the 1988 slaying were not available Wednesday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

  • Staff writer Ruby Gonzales contributed to this report.
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