As of March 2019, no charges are set against the two officers, Mercadal and Robinet, who shot and killed Stephon Clark in March 2018. On March 2018, Stephon was spotted on the street of his grandmother’s home breaking multiple car windows. Once confronted by the police, Stephon fled to his grandmother’s backyard to which he had resisted arrest. During this moment he had his cell phone in hand, to which officers mistook it for a firearm and shot him a total of 20 times, 10 each. After a year of reviewing the case, California general attorney Xavier Berecca came to a conclusion that the two officers will be declined of any charges. Although he relieved sympathy to the family, he stated they did everything “by the book” which angered friends and family, along with the community as a whole. This outrage led to protests and the arrest of 84 people including journalists and pastors.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think the officers truly acted lawfully?
2. Do you agree with the general attorney’s decision?
3. How would you feel if you were his family?
Original Article:
https://apple.news/AAgWOtpAoTmWOHdGhbd2aTQ
1. I do not think these officers truly acted lawfully because if they did, they would be more cautious about their actions and this black man would not have gotten killed for having a phone in his hand. Also, this is not the first time an unarmed black man has gotten killed by an officer, and I think it is due to the fact that police officers are letting stereotypes get the best of them.
ReplyDeleteIf I was in his family I would be very upset at the police officers because even though they claim that they did everything "by the book" that did not really help the situation and people still died.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the officers acted lawfully. Even if the offices mistook his phone for a gun shooting him 20 times is excessive and unjustified.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the officers acted lawfully because Stephon was not harming anyone, and only held his phone. The officers also shot 20 times, which they didn't need to shoot as much as they did.
ReplyDelete-Kirsten Huynh
If I was his family I would be furious with the officers because they did act out of character and went beyond the violence they should have considering he wasn't trying to resist the officers and he wasn't even carrying a firearm. Also shooting someone 20 consecutive times for no legal reason is outta pocket.
ReplyDeleteThey did act "by the book" but these officers aren't required to make this harsh decisions right away. they acted too quickly and we not 100% sure that he had a gun, and on top of that 20 shots is an excessive amount of shots to take at one person.
ReplyDeleteIf I was in his family, I would have a pretty negative attitude towards the officers who went beyond violence. Shooting unarmed citizens repeatedly is also delusional.
ReplyDeleteIf I were part of the family of the deceased, I would be angry. There is no reason to shoot somebody if they haven't done anything. people should only resort to shooting as a last resort, so there should be no reason for this to happen
ReplyDeleteI think the two police officers were overreacted and acted too quickly. They should be held responsible for their actions as they were not cautious or certain that Stephon Clark had a gun, despite "acting by the book".
ReplyDeleteI think that the officers did not follow the correct precautions. They acted too quickly without thinking and the result ended in an innocent man loosing his life, not fair or justified
ReplyDeleteI don't think the two officers handled this right at all, they didn't act lawfully. I also think that the general attorney should've given harsh punishment for mistaking someone for having a "firearm" in hand when it was a phone.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the policemen acted lawfully because they pretty much shot an innocent man. Also, If I were his family, I would've also be mad and sad on why the police did. I would've wanted justice and freedom.
ReplyDeleteI think that this cop is getting speacail right and if he was a normal person on the streets who just shoot a person then he would have gotten time.
ReplyDelete