SandyMaloneSacramento, CA – The official coroner’s report was released Tuesday on the shooting of Stephon Clark, and the findings were significantly different from those released after a private autopsy paid for by Clark’s family.
The private autopsy released on March 30 was arranged by Clark Family attorney Ben Crump and was conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, KCRA reported.
But Sacramento County Coroner Kimberly Gin found a number of discrepancies in that report and sought to correct the record in the community with the release of her official findings.
In a letter to police on April 27, Gin explained that she’d brought in five additional pathologists into the case “in light of the erroneous information that was released from the private autopsy,” the Sacramento Bee reported.
“Thank you for your patience while I took extra steps in this process to ensure that the facts presented by my officer are true facts backed by scientific research,” Gin wrote.
Stephon Clark, 22, was fatally shot by police on March 18 in his grandparents’ backyard when officers responded to 911 calls about a man breaking into cars and homes. Recordings later revealed that one of the 911 calls came from Clark’s own grandfather.
Clark ran from police, then turned and faced them in a shooting stance. Officers fired at Clark, but investigators later determined that he had been holding a cell phone.
His death sparked protests that became riots and shut down parts of Sacramento.
Gin’s letter, with the accompanying official report, explained the differences between the findings of five pathologists and the one hired by the Clark’s attorney.
“It is clear from review of the written report and photographic documentation that Stephon Clark was struck by seven bullets, not eight as claimed by Dr. Omalu in his press conference statements and as shown on his autopsy diagram,” wrote Dr. Gregory D. Reiber, a Roseville pathologist who conducted an independent review of the county’s findings based on diagrams, photos, body camera videos and other evidence, the Sacramento Bee reported.
The official coroner’s report determined that Clark was, in fact, facing police when he was shot, most likely in a crouching position, rather than turning away from them as Omalu’s report for Clark’s family claimed.
“At no time does the video show Clark to have the left side of his body facing the officers’ position as shots are fired, nor does the video show him turning around from a left-facing position, still upright, and putting his back squarely toward the officers as there are further shots fired which then dropped him,” Reiber wrote. “The video evidence provides clear refutation of Omalu’s description of Clark’s positioning during the shooting as described in his press conference statements.”
Sacramento police issued a statement Tuesday saying the shooting “is still being actively investigated by our department and the state of California Department of Justice.”
“We are committed to a thorough, fact-based investigation that shows our commitment to truth, integrity and our community,” the statement said. “The release of the autopsy report is consistent with that endeavor, as it will inform our community on significant facts related to this incident.”
Sacramento police released a statement on May 2 the said the shooting was “still being actively investigated by our department and the state of California Department of Justice,” the Sacramento Bee reported.
“We are committed to a thorough, fact-based investigation that shows our commitment to truth, integrity and our community,” the statement said. “The release of the autopsy report is consistent with that endeavor, as it will inform our community on significant facts related to this incident.”