Minneapolis Officer Won't Be Charged in Shooting Death of Jamar Clark

The Hennepin County Attorney said Clark was reaching for an officers' gun.

ByABC News
March 30, 2016, 1:06 PM

— -- The Minneapolis police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jamar Clark will not be charged in his death, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said in a press conference that the two police officers' use of force was justified because Clark was reaching for one of their guns.

Clark was shot on November 15, 2015 while struggling with the two officers and died one day later. Witnesses on the scene said Clark was handcuffed when he was shot. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI had been investigating the case.

PHOTO: People listen as the Hennepin County Attorney announces that two Minneapolis police officers will not be charged in the November fatal shooting of Jamar Clark during a press conference, March 30, 2016 in Minneapolis.
People listen as Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announces that two Minneapolis police officers, Officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze, will not be charged in the November fatal shooting of Jamar Clark during a press conference, March 30, 2016 in Minneapolis.

Freeman maintains there is "important corroboration" that Clark was not handcuffed based on forensics evidence finding no DNA inside the handcuffs, no bruises or injuries on Clark’s wrists.

"At the time he was shot, Clark was attempting to gain control of the [officers] firearm," Freeman said.

He described the sequence of events as one officer saying to the other, "He's got my gun," during a struggle with Clark. Following this, the officer reported that Clark said, "I'm ready to die," before he was shot. Clark had a blood alcohol level of 0.09 & THC in his system. Freeman said there is a "high bar" for charging officers in shooting.

PHOTO: A police officer talks with demonstrators in front of a north Minneapolis police precinct during a protest in response to the shooting death of Jamar Clark by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nov. 18, 2015.
A police officer talks with demonstrators in front of a north Minneapolis police precinct during a protest in response to the shooting death of Jamar Clark by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nov. 18, 2015.

Black Lives Matter protests calling for justice and transparency escalated in the days following Clark's death. Police said they used a chemical irritant to control the crowd after protesters threw rocks and bottles at officers.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.