Protesters gather in Sacramento after D.A. announces officers who shot and killed Stephon Clark will not be charged


The decision to not charge the Sacramento police officers who shot and killed Stephon Clark last year sparked public outcry in Sacramento on Saturday.
Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert announced on Saturday that no criminal charges will be filed against the officers, who fired their weapons 20 times at Clark, an unarmed black man, who was in his grandmother's backyard.
"Was a crime committed? There's no question that a human being died," Schubert said. "But when we look at the facts and the law, and we follow our ethical responsibilities, the answer to that question is no." Schubert said that the prosecution determined that the officers had probable cause to stop and detain Clark. Timothy Davis, the president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association, said that the case had seen "unprecedented levels of transparency and oversight."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As a result of the decision, protesters convened outside police headquarters in Sacramento on Saturday evening.
Clark's mother told reporters she was outraged by the ruling. "They executed my son," she said of the officers.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attack
Speed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival
-
Kenya arrests alleged ant smugglers
speed read Two young Belgians have been charged for attempting to smuggle ants out of the country to exotic pet buyers
-
Judge ends Eric Adams case, Trump leverage
Speed Read Federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams were dismissed, as requested by Trump's Justice Department
-
Texas arrests midwife on felony abortion charges
Speed Read Maria Margarita Rojas and an employee at one of her clinics are the first to be criminally charged under Texas' near-total abortion ban
-
South Carolina to execute prisoner by firing squad
speed read Death row inmate Brad Sigmon prefers the squad over the electric chair or lethal injection, his lawyer said
-
Mexico extradites 29 cartel figures amid US tariff threat
Speed Read The extradited suspects include Rafael Caro Quintero, long sought after killing a US narcotics agent
-
Leonard Peltier released from prison
Speed Read The Native American activist convicted of killing two FBI agents had his life sentence commuted by former President Joe Biden
-
Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years
Speed Read The former New Jersey senator was convicted on federal bribery and corruption charges last year