Sacramento settles Stephon Clark’s family lawsuit, agrees to pay parents

The city of Sacramento will pay Stephon Clark’s parents $1.7 million after settling a lawsuit filed by the family. This is on top of the $2.4 million the city already gave to Clark’s two children through a 2019 wrongful death settlement. Clark was shot and killed March 18, 2018, in his grandparents’ backyard in south Sacramento. Officers were responding to a call about a person breaking car windows at night when a Sacramento County sheriff’s helicopter led officers to Clark, who began to run away. The two responding officers believed he was armed and fired 20 rounds at Clark, police said. Investigators later discovered Clark was holding a cellphone and not armed. On Friday evening, Clark’s brother ⁠— Stevante Clark ⁠—held a news conference to respond to the announcement of the settlement. Stevante Clark said that, despite the settlement, he will continue to call for the officers involved to be fired, charged and prosecuted. “He was a loving, loving, loving father,” Stevante Clark said of his brother. “He was a proud father. He was love and light.” Clark said he and others planned to protest Saturday afternoon at pm at Stockton and Fruitridge Roads to continue to call for the officers’ resignation. Stevante Clark also said, in honor of Stephon Clark’s birthday Wednesday, events would be held throughout the weekend in his memory.”There’s no reason I should be out here talking about my brother’s legacy, defending my brother’s legacy, when the officers who murdered him should be proving their innocence in court,” Stevante Clark said during the news conference. “We always have to relive the death of Stephon.”| READ TIMELINE | 4 years after Stephon Clark’s police shooting death, a look back at what has since changedThe Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General’s Office said in March 2019 that the officers would not face criminal charges.The wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city and the two police officers claims the officers racially profiled Clark and used excessive force when they shot and killed him in March 2018.The city’s attorney Susana Alcala Wood said in a statement on Friday that the most recent settlement is “the best path forward for all involved parties including our community.”The Clark family has agreed that the settlement brings an end to the legal action. “Stephon Clark’s death was a tragedy that brought pain and sorrow to his family and to our entire city,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg said.” Everyone wishes this heartbreaking event had not occurred. A family lost a son, a grandson, a brother, and a father.” | VIDEO BELOW | Four years later, Stephon Clark’s legacy is inspiring action and changeClark’s death launched weeks of protests and years of demands for greater accountability in police use of force deaths.Since the shooting, the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Police Department have implemented changes including updates to body-camera and foot-pursuit policies, as well as the development of a comprehensive use-of-force policy, the city said.This is a developing story,stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.Download our app for the latest.

The city of Sacramento will pay Stephon Clark’s parents $1.7 million after settling a lawsuit filed by the family. This is on top of the $2.4 million the city already gave to Clark’s two children through a 2019 wrongful death settlement.

Clark was shot and killed March 18, 2018, in his grandparents’ backyard in south Sacramento. Officers were responding to a call about a person breaking car windows at night when a Sacramento County sheriff’s helicopter led officers to Clark, who began to run away. The two responding officers believed he was armed and fired 20 rounds at Clark, police said. Investigators later discovered Clark was holding a cellphone and not armed.

On Friday evening, Clark’s brother ⁠— Stevante Clark ⁠—held a news conference to respond to the announcement of the settlement. Stevante Clark said that, despite the settlement, he will continue to call for the officers involved to be fired, charged and prosecuted.

“He was a loving, loving, loving father,” Stevante Clark said of his brother. “He was a proud father. He was love and light.”

Clark said he and others planned to protest Saturday afternoon at pm at Stockton and Fruitridge Roads to continue to call for the officers’ resignation. Stevante Clark also said, in honor of Stephen Clark’s birthday Wednesday, events would be held throughout the weekend in his memory.

“There’s no reason I should be out here talking about my brother’s legacy, defending my brother’s legacy, when the officers who murdered him should be proving their innocence in court,” Stevante Clark said during the news conference. “We always have to relive the death of Stephon.”

| READ TIMELINE | 4 years after Stephen Clark’s police shooting death, a look back at what has since changed

The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General’s Office said in March 2019 that the officers would not face criminal charges.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city and the two police officers claims the officers racially profiled Clark and used excessive force when they shot and killed him in March 2018.

The city’s attorney Susana Alcala Wood said in a statement on Friday that the most recent settlement is “the best path forward for all parties involved including our community.”

The Clark family has agreed that the settlement brings an end to the legal action.

“Stephon Clark’s death was a tragedy that brought pain and sorrow to his family and to our entire city,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg said. “Everyone wishes this heartbreaking event had not occurred. A family lost a son, a grandson, a brother, and a father.”

| VIDEO BELOW | Four years later, Stephen Clark’s legacy is inspiring action and change

Clark’s death launched weeks of protests and years of demands for greater accountability in police use of force deaths.

Since the shooting, the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Police Department have implemented changes including updates to body-camera and foot-pursuit policies, as well as the development of a comprehensive use-of-force policy, the city said.

This is a developing story, stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.

Download our app for the latest.

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