Investigation into fatal police shooting of Stephon Clark in grandparents’ backyard completed
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The criminal investigation into the fatal police-involved shooting of unarmed father Stephon Clark, has been completed seven months after he was gunned down in his grandparents’ backyard.
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On Thursday, the Sacramento Police Department reported that the results of the investigation have been forwarded to Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for further examination. They will conclude whether criminal charges should be rendered against the two police officers who fatally shot Clark on March 18, the Sacramento Bee reports.
“Because this matter is under review and is still pending, ethical obligations prevent us from commenting further at this time,” District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Shelly Orio said in an email Thursday. “Once a decision is made, further details will be provided.”
Stevante Clark, Stephon Clark’s brother, posted a statement on Instagram criticizing the department for not divulging the confidential results with the family.
“Astonishingly, these details have even been completely concealed from the Clark Family, which does not promote transparency in the slightest,” he wrote.
Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn requested that the Becerra be included on the review after activists took issue with Schubert’s independent review.
“Our role has been to conduct a thorough investigation and give the Sacramento County District Attorney and State of California Department of Justice the information they need to reach a decision,” said Hahn in a statement. “We have taken this responsibility seriously, and we have delivered on our promise to thoroughly pursue the facts and report them.”
Officers Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet killed 22-year-old Clark with eight bullets, six of them striking him in his back, according to a private autopsy.
Clark received no entry wounds from the front of his body, according to the Sacramento Bee. Instead, the autopsy found, he was facing his grandmother’s house with his left side pointed toward the officers who shot him, first hitting him under the left arm. But the blast of that shot spun him around so that his back was toward the officers leaving it exposed to six more shots. Another shot struck him in his left thigh as he fell to the ground.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said in a statement that he is “hopeful that the District Attorney and the Attorney General will move expeditiously to reach its findings and recommendations.”
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