Police Officers Who Fatally Shot Stephon Clark Will Not Face Charges, Says Sacramento DA

The Sacramento District Attorney revealed that the police officers who killed Stephon Clark will not face charges, much to the disappointment of protesters outside the Sacramento police headquarters.

The county's top prosecutor announced she did not intend to file charges against two police officers who fatally shot Stephon Clark, an unmanned black man, in his own grandmother's backyard last year.

According to Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, their investigation needed her to decide whether the officers broke the law.

"When we look at the facts and the law, and we follow our ethical responsibilities, the answer is no."

The case increased the strained relations between law enforcement and the Sacramento community and the racial tensions in the area. City officials and community leaders have been appealing for peace after protests have been made against the DA's decision.

The Clark family previously filed a $20 million federal lawsuit against the two officers involved. The 22-year-old was shot multiple times by two officers, who thought they saw a flash coming from a gun. It turns out, he was only holding his cellphone, which was found under his body after he was shot.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit they filed, the two officers, one black and one white, failed to issue a verbal warning to the man before opening fire. The family also stated that the cops did not get Clark medical attention right after the shooting.

"The involved officers . . . fired 20 shots striking (Clark) approximately eight times."

Brian Panish, attorney for Clark's children, parents, and grandchildren, previously said in a statement:

"When the facts are fully disclosed, we are confident that a jury will deliver justice that reflects how grossly the police land city officials failed Stephon, his family and the people of Sacramento.”

Unfortunately for them, there would be no justice served for his death that day. Schubert claimed that the policemen were called after a neighbor said Clark vandalized three cars and jumped through backyards. She also said that the cops allegedly asked him to respond, but when he didn't, that's when they opened fire.