DoJ to probe unarmed California man's killing by police

Police in the California state capital Sacramento called for calm Tuesday as they announced a justice department investigation into the fatal shooting of an unarmed African American in his grandparents' yard.

Body camera and surveillance helicopter footage released last Wednesday showed police chasing and then firing 20 rounds at Stephon Clark, fearing that he was carrying a weapon. He was actually holding an iPhone.

An uproar following the March 18 incident led to days of protest, outside the state Capitol and continuing into the streets of downtown, with marchers blocking traffic and clashing with police in riot gear.

"As the capital of California, we often see the rights of protestors exercised in our city," police chief Daniel Hahn told a news conference.

"But as we have seen, I'm concerned that as a community, we exercise calm over the coming weeks and months and that we don't have any more tragedies, injuries or property damage as that does not help us move forward and improve the city for all people."

The incident was triggered by an emergency 911 phone call late on March 18 stating that a man was smashing car windows in the neighborhood.

Clark, 22, appeared to fit the suspect's profile, and police chased after him, backed by a helicopter equipped with infrared cameras.

The videos caught by the helicopter and by the officer's body cameras showed Clark running through the neighborhood, then entering the backyard of his grandparents' home, where he lived.

The officers burst into the yard with their weapons drawn and confront the father-of-two, shouting: "Show me your hands!" followed soon after by "Gun, gun, gun!"

The officers opened fire, with each shot appearing as a flash on the helicopter's infrared footage.

The officers were put on leave, but the incident has revived a recurring debate over police abuses against African Americans, who account for an overwhelming share of the number of suspects killed by police.

Hahn said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra was asked to be an independendent member of the probe, due to "the extremely high emotions, anger and hurt in our city."

He vowed to allow full access for the Department of Justice investigators who would provide an independent review of the force's use-of-force procedures and practices.

The Clark family has hired renowned civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who negotiated settlements for the families of both Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice, according to local media.

The family is mulling whether to go to court but even an out-of-court settlement is expected to take months to reach.

"Although we will continue to coordinate with the Sacramento Police Department, we will retain our independence as we conduct this review," said Becerra.

"Our independent oversight of the investigation and our separate review of the department will be based on the facts and the law. Nothing more, nothing less."