Man Who Hit Carlsbad Cop with Skateboard Heading to Prison

Kyle McCord, 33, assaulted Officer Michael McKinney on March 29, 2024, at a shopping center near Carlsbad Village Drive.

According to reports, the incident began when a rock hit McKinney’s patrol car, prompting him to stop and inspect the damage. While he and another officer were looking at the vehicle, McCord came up from behind and hit McKinney in the head with a skateboard before making a run for it.

Stunned and disoriented, McKinney initially thought he had been shot. He fired three rounds at McCord, but none of them hit their target.

Meanwhile, McCord managed to flee the scene, only to be caught by officers a few blocks away. As he ran, a rock fell out of his pocket, adding another layer to the mystery of why he targeted McKinney in the first place.

McKinney was rushed to the hospital with a skull fracture, brain bleed, and concussion. Months later, he is still recovering and has not yet been able to return to duty.

His department remains hopeful about his progress, with a spokesperson saying, "The entire department is looking forward to his return while continuing to support him through this process."

McCord, who refused to attend his sentencing, was initially charged with attempted murder but later pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, along with additional charges related to the severity of McKinney’s injuries.

On Thursday, he received a 10-year sentence, with an extra eight months tacked on for an unrelated case.

The attack was caught on body-worn camera footage, which helped investigators piece together the sequence of events.

While there’s still no clear motive for why McCord launched the assault, his actions left a lasting impact on McKinney, his colleagues, and the community.

For now, McKinney continues to focus on his recovery, while McCord begins his decade-long sentence behind bars.