AG Becerra To Join Investigation Into Stephon Clark Shooting
(CNN) -- Citing the "extremely high emotions, anger and hurt" in Sacramento following the shooting death of Stephon Clark by police in his grandmother's backyard, Police Chief Daniel Hahn said Tuesday that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will hold an independent investigation into the shooting.
Hahn, surrounded by community leaders at a news conference, called last week's shooting "a tragedy that no one wants to see or experience" and said he requested the oversight of state prosecutors even though he had confidence in his detectives to be impartial.
"Due to the nature of this investigation, extremely high emotions, anger and hurt, I felt it was in the best interest of our entire community to ask the Attorney General to be an independent part of the investigation," Hahn said.
The press conference came a week after Clark, 22, was shot and killed in his grandmother's Sacramento backyard by officers who believed he was pointing a gun at them, according to police.
No weapon was found at the scene. The only item discovered was a cell phone, police said.
Officers fired 20 shots, hitting Clark multiple times, police told CNN affiliate KOVR.
The shooting has led to protests in California's capital. Community and religious leaders joined local elected officials Tuesday in appealing for calm.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said Becerra's investigation would provide the communuty with "extra assurance" about a fair and impartial process.
"We're going to make sure every stone is turned," Becerra said, noting that his involvement came at the request of the police chief.
"That's pretty big. I believe he's showing trust and respect," he said of Hahn.
Becerra said his investigators will also evaluate law enforcement policies, procedures and practices.
"We take on this responsibility in full recognition of the importance of getting it right -- because there is nothing more important than respect and trust between law enforcement and the communities that they are sworn to protect as we work to keep all Californians safe," Becerra said.
Sacramento County Coroner Kim Gin determined Clark's cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and classified his death as a homicide. A spokesperson for the coroner's office said the exact number of rounds that struck Clark is not being released at this time. The full autopsy report will be held until the case is adjudicated in court.
Sacramento Police released body camera video of the incident that showed the officers did not immediately provide Clark with lifesaving efforts, instead waiting until other units arrived at the scene.
Two officers -- one of them black -- have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a use-of-force investigation.
The shooting happened March 18 after 9 p.m., when Sacramento officers responded to a report that a man had broken car windows and was hiding behind homes. They pursued a man who hopped a fence and was in a backyard.
The shooting was captured on video by the two officers' body cameras and a police helicopter. That footage was released on Wednesday in an effort to be transparent.
The body camera videos show the brief encounter between police and Clark, lasting less than a minute.
Police said the officers entered the front yard and saw the suspect along the side of the home. The man "turned and advanced toward the officers while holding an object" extended in front of him, according to the police account.
"Show me your hands!" one of the officers yelled. "Gun, gun, gun."
Seconds later, officers opened fire as they took cover near a wall.
As more police arrived at the scene, someone could be heard asking, "What did he have on him?"
An officer responded "... something in his hands. It looked like a gun from our perspective."
Clark's family has disputed the police account.
The-CNN-Wire
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