OAKLAND ? A North Oakland man branded a "snitch" because he reports and photographs drug dealers around his home may face assault charges after shooting and wounding a 16-year-old neighbor who confronted him in his front yard.
Neighbors and police have rallied to the defense of Patrick McCullough, who they believe only shot the youth in self-defense. The youth's mother is pressing the district attorney to file charges.
Deputy District Attorney James Lee said Friday his investigation of the Feb. 18 incident is over and a decision should be made next week. Lee could be charged with assault or carrying a concealed weapon, or not charged at all, Lee said.
McCullough, who lives near Bushrod Park with his wife and young son, said he had spent part of that Friday afternoon watching Power Ranger cartoons with his son before heading out to shop for dinner, leaving his wife and son at home.
When he walked outside, McCullough said about a dozen young men and a couple of women were standing in front of his house. Someone called him a snitch, and when he replied, the 16-year-old charged him, McCullough said. They traded blows, McCullough said and the group started circling around; somebody threw a stick at him.
At that point, he said, the 16-year-old ran to a separate group standing near his neighbor's property, and he heard him ask for a pistol. When McCullough saw another man lift his shirt, showing a gun in his waistband, and the youth reach for it, McCullough said he feared for his life and didn't hesitate.
McCullough said he was aiming for the youth's torso and hit him in the arm. McCullough was arrested and spent the night in jail. The youth, who'Snitch' claims
self-defense
lives down the street, was taken to Highland Hospital and treated for a damaged artery, Lee said.
McCullough and his wife moved into the home in 1994 with the help of Oakland's first-time homebuyers' program, which requires them to keep the house for 20 years.
He has made no attempt to hide his reports to the police when he sees drug dealing in the neighborhood, and in April 2003 he caught the ire of Wayne Camper, who, with two associates, beat and kicked him in his front yard.
Camper was charged with assault. In the middle of the trial, Camper was shot and killed by a rival drug dealer.
McCullough said he has suffered much more harassment since then, and started carrying a gun, which he has owned for quite awhile, whenever he leaves the house. Just a few months ago, he said, somebody heaved a 15-pound chunk of concrete through his front window.
He said he is not a vigilante but someone who has been forced to protect himself and his family in the sanctity of his home.
"If I was a vigilante, and I have weapons, why haven't I gone out and shot anybody?" he asked. "I didn't shoot Camper, and if this kid hadn't said 'give me a gun,' I wouldn't have shot him either."
Lt. Lawrence Green, PSA commander for North Oakland, has gone to bat for McCullough and stepped up patrols around his house.
"He's the victim, he's the one that was dumped by a group of kids," Green said.
"They precipitated the entire event, and when they are referring to him as a snitch, they are upset about him calling police.
"It's an escalation of events that started with Wayne Camper. Nothing would have happened if the kids would not have confronted him," Green added.
McCullough said he plans to petition the city to let him out of the contract with no economical hardship because staying in the house is not safe for him or his family.
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Neighbors and police have rallied to the defense of Patrick McCullough, who they believe only shot the youth in self-defense. The youth's mother is pressing the district attorney to file charges.
Deputy District Attorney James Lee said Friday his investigation of the Feb. 18 incident is over and a decision should be made next week. Lee could be charged with assault or carrying a concealed weapon, or not charged at all, Lee said.
McCullough, who lives near Bushrod Park with his wife and young son, said he had spent part of that Friday afternoon watching Power Ranger cartoons with his son before heading out to shop for dinner, leaving his wife and son at home.
When he walked outside, McCullough said about a dozen young men and a couple of women were standing in front of his house. Someone called him a snitch, and when he replied, the 16-year-old charged him, McCullough said. They traded blows, McCullough said and the group started circling around; somebody threw a stick at him.
At that point, he said, the 16-year-old ran to a separate group standing near his neighbor's property, and he heard him ask for a pistol. When McCullough saw another man lift his shirt, showing a gun in his waistband, and the youth reach for it, McCullough said he feared for his life and didn't hesitate.
McCullough said he was aiming for the youth's torso and hit him in the arm. McCullough was arrested and spent the night in jail. The youth, who'Snitch' claims
self-defense
lives down the street, was taken to Highland Hospital and treated for a damaged artery, Lee said.
McCullough and his wife moved into the home in 1994 with the help of Oakland's first-time homebuyers' program, which requires them to keep the house for 20 years.
He has made no attempt to hide his reports to the police when he sees drug dealing in the neighborhood, and in April 2003 he caught the ire of Wayne Camper, who, with two associates, beat and kicked him in his front yard.
Camper was charged with assault. In the middle of the trial, Camper was shot and killed by a rival drug dealer.
McCullough said he has suffered much more harassment since then, and started carrying a gun, which he has owned for quite awhile, whenever he leaves the house. Just a few months ago, he said, somebody heaved a 15-pound chunk of concrete through his front window.
He said he is not a vigilante but someone who has been forced to protect himself and his family in the sanctity of his home.
"If I was a vigilante, and I have weapons, why haven't I gone out and shot anybody?" he asked. "I didn't shoot Camper, and if this kid hadn't said 'give me a gun,' I wouldn't have shot him either."
Lt. Lawrence Green, PSA commander for North Oakland, has gone to bat for McCullough and stepped up patrols around his house.
"He's the victim, he's the one that was dumped by a group of kids," Green said.
"They precipitated the entire event, and when they are referring to him as a snitch, they are upset about him calling police.
"It's an escalation of events that started with Wayne Camper. Nothing would have happened if the kids would not have confronted him," Green added.
McCullough said he plans to petition the city to let him out of the contract with no economical hardship because staying in the house is not safe for him or his family.
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