Shooting by Officer Justified, Police Say
The shooting death of a black man by Pasadena police officers in April, which fanned racial tension between residents and law enforcement, was justified, according to an internal investigation released Tuesday by the Pasadena Police Department.
Maurice Clark, 30, was fatally wounded April 24 while leading two officers on a chase in northwest Pasadena.
During the chase, Clark allegedly fired one gunshot, though not in the direction of police. Fearing for his safety, Officer Keith Gomez fired six shots through a chain-link fence and tarpaulin, striking the suspect twice, investigators said.
The findings will be reviewed by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Additional probes are being conducted by the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice at the request of the Pasadena Police Department.
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