Stephon Clark lay motionless for several minutes before officers approached him after he was shot by police on March 18, new videos released by the Sacramento Police Department appear to show, according to reports.
Officers waited almost five minutes to approach Clark, 22, after he was shot by two police officers in his grandparents' backyard, the Los Angeles Times reported, noting that they were apparently concerned that Clark was armed and playing dead.
Officers investigating reports of vehicle break-ins chased Clark into the backyard, where he was shot at 20 times. Authorities said he moved toward the officers holding what they thought was a weapon, but only a cellphone was recovered at the scene.
The newly released footage is from 23 in-car camera videos, 28 body-worn camera videos, a sheriff's helicopter video and two 911 audio clips, the Times said. Some names and parts of witness interviews were redacted.
A use-of-force expert told the Times it is not unusual for officers to approach a suspect cautiously.
The shooting sparked weeks of protests and calls for reform. The newly released videos renewed criticism about the length of time it took for Clark to receive medical care.
After waiting about five minutes to approach Clark, officers spent about another minute handcuffing and searching him before beginning CPR, The Sacramento Bee reported.
"The five minutes' lapse in time, I’m not sure if it would have saved the life of Stephon Clark, but it would have increased the chances," Rashid Sidqe, a police reform activist with the Law Enforcement Accountability Directive, said, according to the Bee.
Authorities are investigating whether the time taken to give aide was appropriate under the circumstances.
The newly released videos also show officers muting their body cameras, The Washington Post reported, noting that the issue of muted cameras sparked controversy and led to new policies saying officers shall only mute cameras in special circumstances.
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