Kendrick Loot

Background

Kendrick Loot was a Carson-area gang member. He was sentenced to death in connection with a string of robbery-murders around Southern California in 1995 and 1996.

Two Carson-area gang members, Bruce Millsap and Kendrick Loot, were sentenced to death Wednesday.

The offence

Kendrick Loot participated in robbery-murders including:

• the Nov. 30, 1995, robbery-murder of armored car driver Fernando Herrera in the Queen City Bank in Long Beach
• the Nov. 15, 1995, murder of Ramone McKissick, who was shot by Millsap as Loot was driving
• the Feb. 9, 1996, robbery-murder of armored car driver James Moon at a Carson school

Loot’s role was described as involving three murders. The yearlong rampage included shooting armored car drivers without giving them a chance to hand over the money.

Loot was convicted on several counts of attempted murder, robbery, and attempted robbery.

Investigation

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge J.D. Smith described the conduct at sentencing as showing cruelty and callousness during the yearlong rampage, including shooting armored car drivers without giving them a chance to hand over the money.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Anthony Myers commented after the sentencing hearing.

“These are super predators, whose actions were completely bereft of any understanding or compassion for human life,”
Deputy Dist. Atty. Anthony Myers said after the sentencing hearing.
“In the end, justice will be achieved when . . . they are executed.”

Trial

Kendrick Loot and Bruce Millsap were found guilty of the Nov. They were also found guilty of the Feb. 9, 1996, robbery-murder of armored car driver James Moon at a Carson school, and the Nov.

Sentencing

Smith said Bruce Millsap, 33, and Kendrick Loot, 28, deserved execution.

Loot was sentenced to one death sentence plus two life sentences for his role in three murders.

Loot’s attorney, Richard LaPan, said his client should not have been sentenced to death because he did not actually pull the trigger to kill any of the victims.

LaPan also said that Loot had said he would rather die by lethal injection than spend his life in prison.

LaPan said he would appeal his client’s case anyway because Loot might change his mind in a month.

“I think his life is worth saving, and even if I didn't, it's my duty anyway,”
the attorney said.

Under state law, the men’s sentences of death by lethal injection would automatically be appealed.

Appeals

Other details

• Bruce Millsap was sentenced to eight death sentences plus 200 years for first-degree murders of eight people.
• Millsap was also convicted last month of five other murders and on 15 counts of robbery and attempted murder in communities across Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.
• Millsap may also face charges that he tried to hire someone to kill Myers, along with Deputy Dist. Atty. Kevin McCormick and two witnesses in the case.
• Loot faced another murder trial in Riverside County.
• A third man, Richard Colston, a former accomplice who testified against Loot and Millsap, awaited trial on four murder charges and could face the death penalty if convicted.
• A fourth accomplice, Emanuel Brown, hanged himself in his jail cell when he learned he would have to stand trial.