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| Stephon Clark’s Sons Reach $2.4 Million Settlement Over Police Killing | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The family of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man who was shot seven times by Sacramento police officers last year and whose death prompted California to change its use-of-force law, reached a $2.4 million settlement this week with the capital city, court filings show. | The family of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man who was shot seven times by Sacramento police officers last year and whose death prompted California to change its use-of-force law, reached a $2.4 million settlement this week with the capital city, court filings show. |
| The money will go to Mr. Clark’s two sons, ages 2 and 5, in three lump sums starting when they turn 22, according to the settlement, which was approved on Tuesday by a Federal District Court judge in Sacramento. The sons will receive just under $900,000 each once lawyer fees are deducted from the settlement. | The money will go to Mr. Clark’s two sons, ages 2 and 5, in three lump sums starting when they turn 22, according to the settlement, which was approved on Tuesday by a Federal District Court judge in Sacramento. The sons will receive just under $900,000 each once lawyer fees are deducted from the settlement. |
| The settlement came after negotiations between Sacramento and Mr. Clark’s family, which had filed a $20 million wrongful-death lawsuit in January against the city and the two officers involved in the shooting, which occurred in the backyard of Mr. Clark’s grandparents. | The settlement came after negotiations between Sacramento and Mr. Clark’s family, which had filed a $20 million wrongful-death lawsuit in January against the city and the two officers involved in the shooting, which occurred in the backyard of Mr. Clark’s grandparents. |
| The officers, Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet, did not face criminal prosecution for their actions on March 18, 2018, when they were dispatched to the Meadowview neighborhood of Sacramento to investigate reports of a person smashing car windows. | The officers, Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet, did not face criminal prosecution for their actions on March 18, 2018, when they were dispatched to the Meadowview neighborhood of Sacramento to investigate reports of a person smashing car windows. |
| Body camera footage showed the officers yelling, “Show me your hands — gun, gun, gun,” before firing 20 times into the darkness at Mr. Clark, 22, who did not have a weapon and had been holding a cellphone. The lack of charges against the two officers, who are still employed and had turned off an audio recording of the exchange, prompted protests. | Body camera footage showed the officers yelling, “Show me your hands — gun, gun, gun,” before firing 20 times into the darkness at Mr. Clark, 22, who did not have a weapon and had been holding a cellphone. The lack of charges against the two officers, who are still employed and had turned off an audio recording of the exchange, prompted protests. |
| Sacramento’s mayor, Darrell Steinberg, said in an statement on Thursday that he was proud of the way the community had responded to Mr. Clark’s tragic death, and he cited a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in August requiring that the police use deadly force only “when necessary in defense of human life.” The law previously allowed for the use of deadly force when “reasonable.” | Sacramento’s mayor, Darrell Steinberg, said in an statement on Thursday that he was proud of the way the community had responded to Mr. Clark’s tragic death, and he cited a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in August requiring that the police use deadly force only “when necessary in defense of human life.” The law previously allowed for the use of deadly force when “reasonable.” |
| “Residents engaged in peaceful protest to express their anger and grief,” Mr. Steinberg said. “Our Police Department responded by adopting real change in crucial policies such as when to chase suspects on foot and when body-worn cameras must be activated. And the state of California responded by adopting a new use of force standard that will save lives.” | “Residents engaged in peaceful protest to express their anger and grief,” Mr. Steinberg said. “Our Police Department responded by adopting real change in crucial policies such as when to chase suspects on foot and when body-worn cameras must be activated. And the state of California responded by adopting a new use of force standard that will save lives.” |
| The Police Department declined to comment on the settlement, and noted that the two officers also had no comment. | The Police Department declined to comment on the settlement, and noted that the two officers also had no comment. |
| Mr. Clark’s family could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday. And Governor Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. | Mr. Clark’s family could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday. And Governor Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. |
| In response to Mr. Clark’s death, Sacramento officials said, the city passed an emergency order in April 2018 requiring police officers to keep their body cameras and audio recording equipment activated in all cases, except for narrowly defined circumstances. | In response to Mr. Clark’s death, Sacramento officials said, the city passed an emergency order in April 2018 requiring police officers to keep their body cameras and audio recording equipment activated in all cases, except for narrowly defined circumstances. |
| In July 2018, the Police Department adopted a new policy that requires officers to assess both the danger to themselves and the public when pursuing a suspect on foot, as well as the importance of apprehending the suspect. | In July 2018, the Police Department adopted a new policy that requires officers to assess both the danger to themselves and the public when pursuing a suspect on foot, as well as the importance of apprehending the suspect. |
| Sacramento officials said they wanted to avoid protracted and costly litigation of defending the city in the Clark family’s wrongful-death lawsuit. | Sacramento officials said they wanted to avoid protracted and costly litigation of defending the city in the Clark family’s wrongful-death lawsuit. |
| “I know the Clark family will never stop mourning the loss of Stephon, but I am also proud of the way they have engaged as productive participants in the debate over how to make Sacramento a better city,” Mr. Steinberg said. “I wish all the best for Stephon’s children.” | “I know the Clark family will never stop mourning the loss of Stephon, but I am also proud of the way they have engaged as productive participants in the debate over how to make Sacramento a better city,” Mr. Steinberg said. “I wish all the best for Stephon’s children.” |