Portland to Pay $3.75 Million for the Killing of a Unarmed Man

• Portland to pay $3.75 million for the killing of a man
• The shooting became the largest payout in the city's history
• The police recognized the need for changes in officer training

The city of Portland, Oregon, plans to pay $3.75 million for the shooting of an unarmed man who was shot by police in 2022. The man, Jimmaneul Clark, was fatally shot under the pretext of a suspected armed robbery and was shot when he attempted to flee from a police stop.

Clark's shooting sparked a lawsuit over wrongful death last year. According to data published by Oregon Public Broadcasting, this payout has become the largest compensation ever paid by the city to any individual in such a case.

City commissioners unanimously approved the agreement after a meeting that discussed the need for police accountability regarding the use of deadly force. An internal investigation revealed that the officer who shot Clark violated departmental policy. The police review board found the shooting justified under police policy.

Police Chief Bob Day expressed regret over the circumstances of Clark's death but believed that the actions of Officer Kris Sathoff were reasonable given the conditions that existed at that moment. A major jury indicted Sathoff in connection with criminal negligence in 2023.

In the shooting incident, witnesses reported that he was robbed by armed men. Police apparently seized Clark's vehicle that was involved in the robbery. After Clark's stop, an African American man fled on foot. Sathoff claimed that Clark "pulled out a gun," believing that he might have a weapon, and fired three times with an AR-15 rifle.

The city council also noted that the shooting raised concerns regarding the police's treatment of Black and white residents of Portland.

The Portland police announced changes in officer training regarding the use of firearms following the incident.

Tags: USA/Crime