Mar 2, 2019

Sacramento officers face no criminal charges after killing unarmed black man

Gigi Sukin

Stevante Clark, Stephon Clark's brother, along with fellow protestors. Photo: JOSH EDELSON/Getty Images.

Two police officers who shot and killed Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man in his grandmother's backyard, will face "no criminal liability," said Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert on Saturday.

Quick take: The night of March 18, 2018, Clark damaged 3 cars and broke a backyard glass door belonging to an 89-year-old man, during which the officers, both of whom were wearing body cameras, chased Clark, ultimately shooting him 8 times. The officers claimed that Clark had pointed a gun at them.

The big picture: The case shines yet another spotlight on the strain and lack of trust between the police force and citizenry, as protests flared up for several days following the incident and concerned community members and Black Lives Matters activists pushed for more accountability for Clark's death.

What's next: The Democratic Party of Sacramento County came down on Schubert on Twitter shortly after her announcement, calling her and her supporters culpable in Clark’s death, and a Facebook event is scheduled for protesters at the Sacramento Police Department.

Go deeper: Vivid revelations in police shootings ignite fury

Add Axios on Google

Sacramento officers face no criminal charges after killing unarmed black man

What to read next