On November 18, 2023, at about 4:10 a.m., Pasadena police responded to a ShotSpotter alert for gunfire at Washington Park in the 700 block of East Washington Boulevard. Officers found 64-year-old Pasadena resident Mickey Cooper unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Cooper was the younger brother of former Los Angeles Lakers star Michael Cooper, and both brothers had played basketball at Washington Park as children. Michael Cooper said his brother felt comfortable and safe in the park and noted Mickey’s struggles with drug addiction, while stressing that did not justify his death.

Detectives quickly identified a person of interest and, later on November 18, arrested 24-year-old Pasadena resident Aaron Miguel Conell without incident. Conell was initially booked on an unrelated assault with a firearm charge; on November 20 prosecutors amended charges to include murder after additional evidence was developed. Investigators also allege Conell’s involvement in two other Pasadena shootings: an October 29 attack at Washington Park, charged as attempted murder, and a November 5 incident at a gas station, charged as assault with a semiautomatic firearm. As of November 22, 2023, Conell was held on $4.25 million bail and faces a potential term of over 50 years to life if convicted on all counts. The motive remains under investigation; anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.