The Children

Kendrick McDonald

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STATE INFO

CANDID ID: NE_23_967

AGE

10 years

STATE

Nebraska

DATE OF DEATH

11/1/2023

MEDIA

omaha.com

DEATH RECORDS

Not Available

STATE REPORTS

Not Available

SUMMARY OF DEATH

Ten-year-old Kendrick McDonald was fatally shot outside his Omaha, Nebraska home at approximately 11:30 p.m. on a Thursday night. His father, Will McDonald (age 47), allegedly shot the boy, possibly after a car alarm sounded outside and the father went outside to investigate. Police were investigating whether the father mistook his son for a car thief. Kendrick was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where he later died. Will McDonald was arrested on suspicion of criminal homicide, illegal use of a gun, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He was a convicted felon with prior convictions for felony theft and felony robbery. Other children were present in the home at the time.

Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

The article explicitly describes a shooting incident. It states police found the child "suffering from a gunshot wound," that "Police recovered a handgun at the scene," and the father was arrested on suspicion of "criminal homicide, illegal use of a gun and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person."

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The article states that the child was "suffering from a gunshot wound" and that the father "allegedly shot his 10-year old son to death." A gunshot is an inflicted injury.

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

The article refers to Will McDonald as the "suspect/father" and describes Kendrick McDonald as "his 10-year old son." They share the same last name and Will McDonald is consistently identified as the father throughout the article, strongly implying he is the biological father. Omaha Police Capt. Christensen stated that "the suspect/father went outside to maybe investigate that [car alarm]."

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

The article states: "Police arrested Will McDonald, 47, on suspicion of criminal homicide, illegal use of a gun and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He was being held without bail at the Douglas County Jail."

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

The article describes extensive prior criminal history for Will McDonald separate from the current incident: "Will McDonald spent time in prison in the 1990s, and from 1998 to 2003, after being convicted of felony theft and felony robbery. He was charged in 2004 in Douglas County with illegally possessing a gun as a convicted felon, making terroristic threats and using a firearm to commit a felony, according to Nebraska court records." These prior convictions and charges clearly predate the fatal shooting.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

The article contains several notable details. First, Will McDonald was a convicted felon and prohibited person who should not have possessed a firearm, yet he had a handgun. He was charged with "possession of a firearm by a prohibited person" in addition to homicide. Second, a car alarm going off appears to have precipitated the shooting, and police were investigating whether McDonald mistook his son for a car thief, as noted by Capt. Christensen: "We do know that there was allegedly a car alarm going off, and for whatever reason, the suspect/father went outside to maybe investigate that." Douglas County Attorney Kleine stated: "At this point in time, it doesn't appear that he was justified in firing." Additionally, other children were in the house at the time of the shooting.