#SayHisName, Unarmed Stephon Clark Shot To Death In His Own Backyard Had A Phone, Not A Gun
By: Kayla Pasacreta
Last Sunday, Sacramento police fatally shot Stephon Clark in his own backyard of the home he shared with his grandparents. The San Franscisco Police Department has stated the officers were responding to a report that someone was breaking into car windows nearby and hiding in a backyard. The suspect was said to be carrying a crowbar.
Stephon Clark, photo via Facebook
After seeing Clark in his backyard, police officers were convinced he was the suspect. A confrontation followed,
“He looked back at our officers and faced them. [He] had something, an object in his hand, and pointed it at our officers. And at that time our officers believed it was a firearm, and out of fear for their own lives they fired their service weapons.”
The police fired at least 10 shots each, leading Clark to be inflicted with at least 20 gunshot wounds. Clark was pronounced dead on the scene.
Clark, photo via Twitter
The police later discovered there were no firearms at the scene, and only located Clark's cellphone. His grandmother was home when Clark was shot, and was questioned by police for several hours before being told her grandchild was dead.
Clark was a stay-at-home father with sons aged 1 and 3. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave. The officers were also wearing body cams, and the police department has promised to release the footage in the coming days.
Twitter has taken to calling for justice for Clark:
