Sacramento Agrees To Pay $2.4 Million To Stephon Clark’s Children In Wrongful Death Shooting Settlement
The city of Sacramento will pay $2.4 million to the two sons of Stephon Clark — an unarmed 22-year old black man who was fatally shot by police on March 18, 2018 in his grandmother’s backyard, according to court documents.
About a quarter of the money, $600,000, will go to the family’s attorneys, including the firm of civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump. It will also include nearly $14,000 in expenses.
The settlement was first reported Thursday by The Sacramento Bee from settlement papers filed late Wednesday in federal court.
A verbal settlement was reached in June between the Clark family and the city, reports CBS Sacramento.
Stephon’s family initially sought $20 million through a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sacramento and the two officers who gunned him down. Clark’s parents and grandparents haven’t settled their claims.
County and state authorities declined to file charges against the two officers — Terrance Mercadal and Jared Robinet — who shot Clark.
The officers said they thought Stephon had a gun while he ran from police during a vandalism investigation. Investigators found only a cellphone after the officers shot him multiple times.
This murder by cops shooting caused outrage and led to a stream of protests.
City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood said city officials believe aiding the children “will mark another step in the ongoing healing of our community from a tragic event.”
The proposed settlement is not final, as it requires a judge to issue a final order approving the settlement.
No amount of money could justify what these officers put this family through, but do y’all agree with this settlement? Leave us a comment below.
Here’s an exclusive interview with the little ones back in February with CBS 13 Sacramento.
