Black Man Killed In His Own Backyard; Cops Thought Phone Was Gun

SACRAMENTO, CA — When a 22-year-old black man in Sacramento was shot to death in his own backyard over the weekend, police said he had advanced toward officers in a threatening manner and appeared to be holding a gun. But the man, Stephon Clark, wasn't holding a weapon — it was a cellphone.

Police were called to the 7500 block of 29th Street on Sunday night after receiving a report that a black man in a black, hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored pants broke car windows and was hiding in a backyard, police said in a release.

"During a neighborhood canvass, investigators identified at least three vehicles with damage that is believed to have been caused by the suspect," police said.

Deputies circling the area in a helicopter also saw the suspect shatter a sliding glass door before "engaging" police officers, police said in release. Initially they said he had used a "toolbar," but an updated release omitted the word.

Moments before the shooting, police saw the suspect face them and advance forward with his arms out. The release said he was also holding an "object" in his hands.

"At the time of the shooting, the officers believed the suspect was pointing a firearm at them," the release said.

Sacramento Police Sgt. Vance Chandler told KCPQ-TV that the police officers feared for their lives.

"[He] had something, an object in his hand, and pointed it at our officers," Chandler said. "And at that time our officers believed it was a firearm, and out of fear for their own lives they fired their service weapons."

Both officers fired 10 times each, The Sacramento Bee reported.

But an exhaustive search turned up no gun.

"The only item found near the suspect was a cell phone," police said in the release.

Clark, a father of two sons ages 1 and 3, had been in the backyard of his home that he shared with his grandparents and siblings, his brother told The Sacramento Bee.

Both officers involved were wearing body cameras. There is also video and audio footage from the law enforcement helicopter. Police are preparing those materials for release.

A GoFundMe campaign has since been created to raise money to help Clark's grandparents give him the "ceremony he deserves" and so he can be buried with his family.

It has already raised more than $12,000.

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Photo credit: GoFundMe