Stephon Clark’s family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the two Sacramento police officers who shot and killed Clark in March 2018.
The suit, which was filed on behalf of Clark’s two young sons, his parents and grandparents are seeking more than $20 million in damages, plus the cost of funeral and burial expenses, according to reports.
The lawsuit, which was filed Monday (Jan. 28) alleges the officers racially profiled the 22-year-old and used excessive force. Both cops allegedly failed to identify themselves before firing off 20 rounds at Clark. According to an autopsy report, Clark was shot seven times with three of the bullets hitting him in the back. In an independent autopsy performed at the request of Clark’s surviving family, he was shot eight times with six bullet wounds in his back.
Sacramento police have yet to identify the two officers responsible for Clark’s death. Brian Panish, the attorney hired to represent Clark’s children, is hopeful a jury will side with them.
“When the facts are fully disclosed, we are confident that a jury will deliver justice that reflects how grossly the police land city officials failed Stephon, his family and the people of Sacramento,” Panish said in a statement.
On March 18, 2018, two Sacramento police officers responding to a call someone was breaking car windows in the neighborhood shot and killed Clark inside his grandmother’s backyard. Police said the cops who shot and killed Clark initially thought he was armed. However, an investigation showed Clark was holding his cellphone.
