Attorney General Declines To Charge Officers In Stephon Clark's Shooting

State Attorney General Xavier Becerra announces on March 5, 2019 that he will not file charges against two Sacramento police officers who fatally shot Stephon Clark.
Photo credit Doug Sovern/ KCBS Radio

SACRAMENTO — The two Sacramento police officers who fatally shot Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man, did not break any laws, according to state Attorney General Xavier Becerra. 

Becerra announced on Tuesday that he will not file charges against officers Terrance Mercadal and Jared Robinet. They said that they shot Clark because they believed he was approaching them with a gun when, in fact, he was holding a cellphone. 

"No criminal charges can be sustained," against Mercadal and Robinet, Becerra said at a press conference. “Of course this was a tough call," he added. 

Clark, 22, had broken several laws and ignored officers' commands before the shooting, Becerra said. 

.@AGBecerra says #StephonClark broke several laws, did not follow officers’ commands, advanced on them rather than retreat, had “bright light” coming from object in his hand, and cops thought he has fired on them, and then reloaded, waiting for backup.

— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) March 5, 2019

The officers purused Clark into his grandparents' yard as they investigated reports of vandalism. They shot him seven times. 

Although the officers were justified in shooting, Becerra said he'd like to see new rules for when police may use deadly force. 

Prior to announcing the results of his finding, Becerra met privately with Clark's with mother to discuss his review. 

Becerra's decision to let the cops go without facing charges comes just days after Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert also declined to prosecute the officers. 

The state and local reviews of the shooting were conducted separately. 

At least 80 demonstrators were arrested last night during protests about case.