DATE: July 25, 2024
CASE: Mandiko Kwadzo (Case #20FE011791)
PROSECUTOR: Principal Criminal Attorney Allison Dunhan, Homicide Unit
On July 24, 2024, Mandiko Kwadzo was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder. The jury also found true the allegation that Kwadzo used a firearm in the commission of the murder. Kwadzo was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On July 27, 2020, West Sacramento police officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired inside a residence. Moments later, a witness reported seeing the victim, Carliena Clayton, and Kwadzo having an argument on the driveway of that residence. The victim was then seen getting into a car with her four small children and Kwadzo getting into the passenger seat as she pulled out of the driveway. When officers arrived on scene, they found evidence of a shooting inside the residence. That night, a man was at Cliff's Marina in Sacramento County when he heard a gunshot followed by a car crashing into the Sacramento River. He called a friend and when the two got to the crash scene to help, they saw the victim's car partially submerged in the river. Kwadzo was standing nearby the car not doing anything to help. When they looked into the car, they found the victim unresponsive in the driver's seat and her four children in the backseat. The oldest 6-year-old child had already unbuckled all their seatbelts, but the youngest 2-year-old child was still in her car seat. The two men got the children out of the car to safety. Responding CHP officers found the victim did not have a pulse with severe bleeding from her head. At that time, it was believed it was a car accident until the oldest child told officers Kwadzo shot his mother. Kwadzo was taken into custody. It was later determined the victim suffered two gunshot wounds to her head. The gun was never located.
Kwadzo faces a maximum sentence of 53 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for September 6, 2024, at 9 a.m. in Department 24 before the Honorable Kenneth Brody.
