Keith Mack
The fatal shooting of Stephon Clark by police officers in Sacramento, California, sparked protests and raised questions about the use of lethal force by law enforcement. Clark, a 22-year-old African American man, was shot 20 times in his grandmother's backyard, with officers believing he was armed. However, it was later discovered that Clark was holding a cellphone and was unarmed. While the officers involved faced no criminal charges, Clark's family and community leaders questioned the role of his criminal record in the incident, with some arguing that his past should not define how he died.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Stephon Clark |
| Age | 22 |
| Date of Death | March 18 |
| Location of Death | Sacramento, California |
| Family | Father of two boys |
| Criminal Record | Robbery, pimping, domestic abuse |
| Police Action | 20 shots fired by two officers |
| Charges Against Officers | None |
| Protests | Black Lives Matter, NAACP |
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What You'll Learn
Was Stephon Clark responsible for the break-ins?
On March 18, 2018, 22-year-old Stephon Clark was shot and killed by two Sacramento police officers in the backyard of his grandparents' house. Officers were responding to a call about a person breaking car windows at night. A Sacramento County sheriff's helicopter led officers to Clark, who began to run away. The two responding officers believed he was armed and fired 20 rounds at Clark. Investigators later discovered Clark was holding a cellphone.
Clark had multiple run-ins with the law prior to this incident. According to court records, his criminal history included four cases in four years, with charges of robbery, pimping, and domestic abuse. He had also pleaded no contest to a charge of "procuring someone for the purpose of prostitution" and was on probation for the 2014 robbery at the time of his death.
However, it is unclear if Clark was responsible for the break-ins that were reported the night he was killed. While police claimed that Clark was seen smashing car windows and a resident's sliding glass door, his family denied that he had anything to do with the break-ins.
Clark's shooting sparked widespread protests and raised questions about police use of force and racial injustice. The Sacramento Police Department released body camera footage and helicopter footage of the incident, which showed Clark running from a neighbor's yard and leaping a fence into his grandmother's property. The footage also captured the moments leading up to the shooting, with officers shouting "Show me your hands! Gun, gun, gun!" before opening fire.
While Clark did have a criminal record, community leaders argued that it was irrelevant to how he died and that the focus should be on the actions of the officers involved. The shooting is still under investigation, with California's attorney general and the police department conducting separate inquiries into what happened that night.
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Did the officers follow protocol?
The shooting of Stephon Clark by Sacramento Police officers has sparked protests and demands for justice from activists and Clark's family. While federal and state investigations cleared the officers of any wrongdoing, the case has raised questions about the use of lethal force by law enforcement and whether the officers involved followed established protocols.
The officers' actions were investigated by local, state, and federal agencies, all of which found the use of deadly force to be lawful. The Sacramento Police Department stated that Clark advanced towards the officers while holding an object, leading them to fear for their safety and resulting in them opening fire. However, it was later discovered that Clark was holding a cellphone and not a gun as initially believed.
The specific protocols and guidelines governing the use of lethal force by the Sacramento Police Department are not publicly available. However, the department's decision to clear the officers involved suggests that they followed the appropriate protocols within the scope of their training and the prevailing legal framework.
It is important to note that the public release of all documentation and videos related to the investigation allows for greater transparency and scrutiny of the officers' actions. The investigation included a review of body camera footage, helicopter footage, witness interviews, autopsy reports, and a phone analysis of Clark's device.
The case has also prompted legislative action, with California introducing a bill to raise the standard for when police officers can use lethal force. The bill seeks to reduce the frequency of deadly force usage and make it more likely for officers to face charges when they do use lethal force. This indicates a recognition of the need for clearer guidelines and accountability measures regarding the use of lethal force.
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Was Clark holding a gun?
There is conflicting evidence as to whether Stephon Clark was holding a gun when he was shot.
Police officers Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet stated that they believed Clark was pointing a gun at them. They said that his arms were "extended" and that they saw a "flash" or "reflection" that they believed to be a "muzzle flash".
However, no gun was found at the scene. Instead, investigators discovered that Clark was holding a cellphone. An independent autopsy found that Clark was shot eight times, primarily in the back, which "raised significant questions about the police account that he was a threat to officers".
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Was Clark's criminal record relevant?
Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old African American man, was shot and killed by two police officers in his grandparents' backyard in Sacramento, California, on March 18, 2018. The officers involved were responding to a 911 call about a person breaking car windows and believed Clark to be armed, firing 20 rounds at him. However, it was later discovered that Clark was only holding a cellphone.
In the aftermath of the shooting, details emerged about Clark's past, including a criminal record with multiple run-ins with law enforcement. Clark's record included charges of robbery, pimping, and domestic abuse, and he was on probation for a 2014 robbery charge at the time of his death. While some may argue that this information is relevant to understanding the full context of the incident, others strongly disagree.
Community leaders and activists have asserted that Clark's criminal history is immaterial to the circumstances of his death. They argue that the focus should be on the actions of the officers involved and the broader issues of racial injustice and police brutality. Berry Accius, a black community leader, stated, "What matters is he was a father of two, he had his family, he was an unarmed black man that was going to his grandparent's house, and got assassinated... The fact is that black people are criminalized when anything happens."
Additionally, Derrell Roberts, who runs a youth mentoring program in South Sacramento, pointed out that neither the officers involved in the shooting nor the 911 callers were aware of Clark's record at the time of the incident. Therefore, he argued, the record is irrelevant to what transpired. NAACP Sacramento chapter President Betty Williams echoed similar sentiments, expressing anger at the mention of Clark's criminal background and emphasizing the need to understand the culture and trauma experienced by African Americans when interacting with police.
The disclosure of Clark's criminal history sparked further protests and outrage, with many questioning the role it played in the decision not to prosecute the officers involved in the shooting. The case has become a rallying cry for justice and a symbol of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and police accountability.
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Did the officers face charges?
On March 2, 2019, Sacramento District Attorney Anne-Marie Schubert announced that the two police officers who shot Stephon Clark would not face criminal charges. Schubert said that the officers, Jared Robinet and Terrence Mercadal, did not commit a crime. She argued that they honestly, without hesitation, believed he had a gun before they fired 20 shots at Clark, hitting him at least seven times.
Schubert's decision was based on a review of the Sacramento Police Department's investigation, which included body-camera footage, helicopter footage, autopsy results, and Clark's cellphone data. The investigation found that Clark had alcohol, Xanax, codeine, hydrocodone, marijuana, and cocaine in his system at the time of the shooting. Additionally, DNA evidence linked Clark to the smashed car windows and a home's sliding glass door, which he broke with a cinder block.
The announcement sparked protests from the Black Lives Matter movement and prompted responses from public figures and sports teams. Clark's family and community members expressed anger and disappointment, with some accusing Schubert of a “smear campaign" and "character assassination."
While the officers did not face criminal charges, the Sacramento Police Department conducted an internal review to determine if the officers should be fired for violating department policy. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra also conducted an independent review of the case at the request of Sacramento Chief of Police Daniel Hahn.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Stephon Clark had multiple run-ins with the law, including robbery, pimping, and domestic abuse.
Stephon Clark was shot and killed by two Sacramento police officers in the backyard of his grandparents' house. The officers were responding to a 911 call about a person breaking car windows and believed Clark was armed. Clark was holding a cellphone and was shot a total of 20 times by the officers.
No, the Sacramento District Attorney announced that the two officers would not face criminal charges related to the shooting death of Stephon Clark.
The shooting sparked widespread protests in California and New York, with responses from Black Lives Matter, the NAACP, and the Sacramento Kings basketball team. There were also protests in Sacramento following the decision not to charge the officers, resulting in the arrest of 84 people.
