Mother's Outrage over Reduced Sentence for Son's Killer: 'Very Traumatizing'

Florence McCrary, whose son was killed by a stray bullet in 2016, is denouncing the reduced sentence given to her son's alleged killer and calling for the ouster of District Attorney Pamela Price, citing her leniency with criminals amidst escalating violence.

Florence McCrary has been waging an arduous battle for justice ever since her 22-year-old son, Terrence McCrary Jr., was tragically killed in a fatal gunfight in 2016. The renowned district attorney, Pamela Price, abruptly dropped the murder charge against the suspected triggerman, Otis Wyatt, leaving McCrary and her family shattered and seeking accountability.

"I was in complete disbelief," McCrary uttered to Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Pete Hegseth, expressing her shock and despair. "The struggle that spanned six long years was reduced to nothing. The realization that my son had been taken from me while sitting there in court was unbearable."

She continued, "The justice system that is supposed to protect our communities failed us. They devalued my son's life to the point of insignificance, rendering this experience incredibly traumatizing."

Price's light-handed approach to crime is not an isolated incident, according to McCrary. She alleges that numerous other mothers have been subjected to similar injustices, forced to endure the anguish of diminished cases and the elusive hope of seeing justice prevail in the courts.

"Not only do these families live with the constant fear of crime, but their cases are often trivialized to the point of nonexistence," McCrary stated. "This mindset of 'we've done the best we can do' is unacceptable. How can you equate a life lost to 21 years of incarceration, and even then, allow for concurrent sentencing with other offenses?"

Citing a recent surge in crime rates, McCrary questions if Oakland residents fully grasp the severity of the situation under Price's leadership. Violent crime has increased by 11% year to date, with robberies alone escalating by an alarming 34% in the first three months of 2023 compared to the same period last year.

"The people's voices have spoken loud and clear," McCrary emphasized, referring to the recall effort against Price that has garnered nearly 75,000 validated signatures. "We are determined to hold a special election and demonstrate through the ballot box that her removal from office is imperative for the safety of our community."

McCrary's unwavering determination is a testament to her love for her son and her belief that justice must prevail, no matter how arduous the journey. Her fight has resonated with countless others who have been impacted by the tragic loss of loved ones and the subsequent mishandling of their cases by the criminal justice system.