A person who shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and left her physique in a automobile sinking within the Sacramento River together with her youngsters was convicted of homicide this week, Sacramento County prosecutors introduced.
Mandiko Kwadzo was convicted Wednesday by a jury of utilizing a firearm within the homicide and being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces 53 years to life in jail at his sentencing Sept. 6, the Sacramento County District Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned in a information launch.
On July 27, 2020, West Sacramento law enforcement officials responded to a report of photographs fired; a witness mentioned they noticed Kwadzo and 23-year-old Carliena Clayton arguing within the driveway of her dwelling.
Clayton was seen getting right into a automobile together with her 4 kids whereas Kwadzo acquired into the passenger seat as they pulled out of the driveway, police mentioned. When officers acquired to the scene, they discovered proof of a taking pictures inside the home.
That evening, a person at Cliff’s Marina in Sacramento heard a gunshot and a automobile crash into the river, authorities mentioned. The person known as over his pal and each went to the crash to assist and noticed Clayton’s automobile within the water with Kwadzo standing close by, not doing something to assist.
Clayton was unresponsive within the driver’s seat and her kids within the backseat. Her 6-year-old little one had unbuckled everybody’s seat belts, however the 2-year-old was nonetheless in a automobile seat. The 2 males rescued all the kids from the automobile, authorities mentioned.
Clayton didn’t have a pulse, in keeping with CHP officers who responded, and had extreme bleeding from her head. She was ultimately pronounced lifeless on the scene. The primary responding officers initially believed the household had gotten right into a automobile accident, however the oldest little one informed officers that Kwadzo shot his mom and Kwadzo was arrested.
In accordance with prosecutor Allison Dunham, Clayton was driving when Kwadzo shot her twice within the head in entrance of her 4 kids whereas he sat within the passenger seat. The automobile then went over the levy and into the river; Kwadzo acquired out of the automobile as soon as it got here to a relaxation within the river.
The gun was by no means discovered.
Clayton’s pal informed CBS Information that on the time of her demise, Clayton had simply bought a house within the Sacramento space for herself and her kids.
“Carliena misplaced her life by any person she was sleeping with each single evening, so that you by no means know what’s going via somebody’s head,” Aseanijanique White mentioned.
